FDA halts Quality Egg shipments, gives green light to Hillendale Farms.

The FDA sent a warning letter on October 15, 2010 to Austin J. DeCoster, owner of Quality Egg LLC of Galt, IA, identifying serious deviations from FDA’s regulation on the safety of shell eggs with respect to bio-security, rodent control and other measures. According to FDA, the letter also finds that the eggs at Quality Egg LLC are adulterated because they have been prepared, packed or held under insanitary conditions.

The letter states, “Failure to take prompt corrective action may result in regulatory action being initiated by the Food and Drug Administration without further notice. These actions include, but are not limited to, seizure and/or injunction.”

Quality Egg LLC is one of two companies that recalled eggs in August, 2010, and has not shipped eggs (as of Oct. 18) to the table market since the August recalls.

In another statement from FDA, Hillendale Farms (the other company that recalled eggs in August) has been authorized to ship eggs to the table market from three of its egg-producing houses.

FDA’s decision is based on a thorough review of the company’s response to the inspectional observations noted by the agency in August. In addition, the three houses have been extensively tested and found to have no evidence of Salmonella contamination. Four other houses overseen by Hillendale are undergoing further testing. Hillendale Farms has also committed to an enhanced surveillance program for Salmonella.