Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Organic Eggs from Minnesota Farm

A Minnesota farm is issuing a recall after its organic eggs were linked to a salmonella outbreak.

At least six cases of salmonella diagnosed between Aug. 12 and Sept. 24 have been traced to eggs from Larry Schultz Organic Farm in Owatonna, Minn., 65 miles south of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Three people were hospitalized, but no deaths were reported.

The contaminated eggs were sold under the brand names Larry Schultz Organic Farm, Kowalski's Organic and Lunds & Byerly's Organic. They were distributed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.

The recall was voluntary, and farm officials are cooperating with the Minnesota Department of Health in its investigation of how the contamination occurred.

I started in this business in the first place because I think of my customers, Larry Schultz, the owner of the farm, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. I want to give them peace of mind.

Symptoms of salmonella appear between eight and 72 hours after exposure and include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever. Most healthy adults recover fully, but the infection can be fatal in young children, elderly people and people with weakened immune systems.

Health officials recommend cooking eggs thoroughly to kill salmonella bacteria.

There have been several outbreaks of food-borne illnesses in recent months, including an outbreak from listeria-tainted cantaloupe that has sickened more than 120 people and killed at least 25. The cantaloupes came from Jensen Farms in Colorado and were recalled on Sept. 14, but cases continue to mount because symptoms of listeria can take up to two months to develop.