Romanian authorities have seized 265,000 eggs contaminated with Salmonella and ordered their destruction.
The eggs were identified at an egg packaging plant in Bucharest, the National Veterinary Authority for Food Safety known as ANSVA said on Thursday.
Contaminated eggs
None of the contaminated eggs arrived on the shop shelves, Agerpres news agency reported.
Food safety officials detected the eggs during a Salmonella control program, a statement said.
“The eggs were seized and sent to be destroyed to an authorized place. Not a single egg,” reached the shops or markets, the press statement said.
Easter
Romanian egg producers sold between 170 million and 180 million eggs in the month leading up to Easter before the pandemic, double the amount for an average amount.
The painted egg is an integral part of Romanians’ Easter.
Households traditionally put a basketful of red-painted eggs on the table. Family members or guests crack an egg with another person. The person who initiates the cracking exclaims „Christ is Risen!” to which the response is: „He is Risen indeed!”
Salmonella
Salmonella can be found in many foods including beef, chicken, eggs, fruits, pork, sprouts, vegetables, and even processed foods. Eating a food that is contaminated with Salmonella can make someone sick.
ANSVSA said there more than 2,500 different serotypes or serovars of Salmonella have been identified , and only some sicken people or animals.
Typically, people with salmonella infection have no symptoms. Others develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. Most healthy people recover within a few days without specific treatment.
