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The main type of Salmonella that infects eggs is Salmonella Enteritidis, sometimes abbreviated as SE. Eggs can become contaminated in two ways:

  1. Surface contamination of the outside of the shell. Salmonella in the environment can get on the shell. The Salmonella can get then get in your egg when you crack the shell. But also, the shell of an egg gets more permeable (small holes open up that you can't see) over time, so the Salmonella bacteria can get inside. This was once thought to be the main way Salmonella gets into eggs, but now scientist believe the main way is the second method (see #2).
  2. Hens can become infected with Salmonella Enteritidis through contaminated feed. This Salmonella can get into the hens ovaries and the Salmonella gets inside the egg as it is forming inside the hen, before it is even laid. Furthermore, the Salmonella stays in the hens ovaries and can infect most or all of the eggs she lays in her lifetime.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a new regulation to help make eggs safer to eat. The regulation seeks to reduce the number of illnesses caused by eggs contaminated with the bacterium Salmonella Enteritidis (SE). The regulation requires the egg industry to take specific preventive measures to keep eggs safe during their production, storage and transport. Egg producers will also be required to register with FDA and to maintain a prevention plan and records to show they are following the regulation.

For more information, see the link in "Related Links".

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14y ago

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