Health Ministry suspects salmonella in Yesh Maof eggs
If you’re cooking an omelet tonight, check the carton label before cracking those eggs.
Consumers in Israeli and Palestinian territories should refrain from consuming eggs of the Yesh Maof farm after the Health Ministry conducted lab tests which showed that the eggs were probably tainted with salmonella.
The Ministry of Agriculture is also involved, and it’s considering whether to compel Yesh Maof to dispose of all possibly contaminated egg stocks in the chicken coop.
It is not yet determined how many people have fallen ill from salmonella poisoning after recently consuming Yesh Maof eggs, but at least two family members were hospitalized last week.
Yesh Maof is one of the largest egg farms in the country. In September, some 11 million eggs were recalled and a chicken coop on the moshav was shuttered. The ministry may now be considering another mass recall.
Given the previous recall, it is possible that health regulators overlooked the extent of the problem. As of Sunday night, the Health Ministry had not yet released an official statement.
A spokeswoman for Yesh Maof said she could not comment and instead forwarded the inquiry to a lawyer who was not available at press time.
The farm is located in Goren, a northern Galilee moshav which sits a few kilometers from the Lebanese border.
Common symptoms of salmonella poisoning include gastrointestinal illness, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. Most people with healthy immune systems recover from the illness without medical treatment.
Salmonella bacteria can be found in undercooked and raw poultry, along with pork and unpasteurized milk products.
If you have or know someone who has a case of suspected salmonella, please call the Health Ministry at *5400.