Health ministry suspects Salmonella in Israeli egg brand

Consumers in Israel and the Palestinian territories should refrain from consuming eggs of the Yesh Maof farm

By MAX SCHINDLER
Eggs (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Eggs
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
If you’re cooking an omelet tonight, check the carton label before cracking a few eggs.
Consumers in Israel and the Palestinian territories should refrain from consuming eggs of the Yesh Maof farm, after the Ministry of Health conducted lab tests that showed that the eggs were probably tainted with Salmonella. The Ministry of Agriculture is also involved, and they are 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 gotten sick 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.
A spokesperson for Yesh Maof said she could not comment, instead forwarding the inquiry to a lawyer who was not available as of press time. The farm is located in Goren, a northern Galilee moshav which sits a few kilometers from the Lebanese border.
Common symptoms from Salmonella poisoning include gastrointestinal illness, diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever. Most people with healthy immune systems recover from salmonella without medical treatment.
Salmonella bacteria can be found in under-cooked 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.