Double whammy of a food recall [updated]

Bad eggs and contaminated frozen fruit pulp have hit Los Angeles County—which means that a large serving of caution should now be added to your food-preparation menu.

County public health officials this week put out the word that consumers should avoid some batches of eggs from Wright County Egg in Iowa as well as Goya Brand frozen mamey pulp. (Also called sapote, the tropical fruit pulp is often used in smoothie-style beverages known as licuados )

Both are contaminated with strains of salmonella bacteria, which can cause an array of unpleasant and potentially fatal symptoms.

So far, 55 people have gotten sick from the eggs in the county, with more than 266 affected statewide. Two Los Angeles County residents, along with three others statewide, have been sickened by the fruit pulp. There have been no deaths associated with either of the recalls, which are unrelated.

Health officials said the eggs were sold under these brand names: Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph’s, Boomsma’s, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps.

“Eggs are packed in varying sizes of cartons (6-egg cartons, dozen egg cartons, 18-egg cartons) with Julian dates ranging from 136 to 225 and plant numbers 1026, 1413 and 1946,” according to the public health department’s news release. “Dates and codes can be found stamped on the end of the egg carton. The plant number begins with the letter P and then the number. The Julian date follows the plant number, for example: P-1946 223. Consumers are advised by Wright County Egg to return the eggs in the original carton to the store where they were purchased for a full refund.”

As for the recalled frozen mamey pulp, all lots numbered 041331090803 should be discarded. Customers should then contact Goya’s consumer affairs department, (800) 275-4692.

Posted 8/18/10

Updated 8/19/20: Public health officials announced an expansion of the egg recall, and said up to 60 people in the county have now been sickened.

Eggs from the expanded recall were packaged under the following brand names: Albertsons, Farm Fresh, James Farms, Glenview, Mountain Dairy, Ralphs, Boomsma, Lund, Kemps and Pacific Coast. “Eggs are packed in varying sizes of cartons (6-egg cartons, dozen egg cartons, 18-egg cartons, and loose eggs for institutional use and repackaging) with Julian dates ranging from 136 to 229 and plant numbers 1720 and 1942,” the public health department said. Officials urged consumers to check packages of eggs in their refrigerators to make sure they are not part of the recall.

For up-to-the-minute updates on the recall, which is national in scope, consult the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recall webpage.