France withdraws 3 million eggs from the market

French health authorities have ordered the withdrawal of approximately 3 million eggs due to possible salmonella contamination, confirmed after 8 people were found to be infected with the bacterium, though none required hospitalisation.

Egg distributor Ovalis has announced the recall of a series of large egg batches sold under different brands by France’s major supermarket chains, including Carrefour, Auchan and Leclerc, as well as smaller quantities distributed through the food bank network across France.

According to Ovalis, the precautionary recall was necessary due to possible contamination with Salmonella Typhimurium. The eggs had been sold in packs of twelve, ten or six between 29 September and 10 October, with a best-before date of 31 October.

Although according to Ovalis only a small number of eggs may be contaminated, they were mixed at its packing centres with a large number of other eggs, making the aforementioned withdrawal of 3 million units necessary.

The advice is not to consume or use the eggs, but to destroy them or return them to the point of purchase for a refund, and that anyone who has consumed the eggs and displays specific symptoms should consult their doctor.

The authorities responsible for product safety are tracing the supply chain of the eggs back to the feed used by poultry producers, although no results have been published to date.

Andalusia: health alert for salmonella in egg products

Meanwhile, in Andalusia, the Regional Government’s Department of Health and Consumer Affairs has declared a food alert for the presence of salmonella in pasteurised liquid egg under the Ovopack brand, and has withdrawn all existing batches of the product from the market, along with two batches of homogenised liquid egg yolk.

In its communiqué, the Regional Government reported that investigations had been extended following an earlier alert, dated 17 October, concerning a specific batch of whole liquid egg, conducted both by the company itself and through official controls. Following this, the Department decided, on a precautionary basis and to maintain a high level of consumer health protection, to withdraw all batches of the aforementioned products from the market while investigations continue.

Initial distribution of the products took place in the Autonomous Communities of Andalusia, Catalonia, Extremadura, Valencia, Galicia, Castilla-La Mancha, Murcia, Madrid and the Canary Islands, as well as in Portugal, although distribution or redistribution to other locations cannot be ruled out. Accordingly, the health alert has been forwarded to the Official Control Services of the affected provinces by the Directorate-General for Public Health and Pharmaceutical Regulation, with a view to verifying the withdrawal of the affected products from commercial channels.

Furthermore, individuals who have the affected products at home are advised to refrain from consuming or using them and to return them to the point of purchase. In the event that they have already been consumed and any symptoms compatible with salmonellosis are present (primarily diarrhoea or vomiting accompanied by fever and headache), it is recommended to visit a health centre.