Born Free Eggs presents new Egg Safety Action Plan

20/09/05 The Department of Homeland Security has identified eggs as one of the five most likely targets for agro-terrorism. Born Free Eggs from Radlo Foods LLC are the first in the nation to enact a new Egg Safety Action Plan including Consumer Group and Homeland Security recommended technology. Food safety and nutrition are primary agenda items of the 28th Annual National Food Policy Conference, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

There are five main elements in the Born Free Plan: Traceability and Freshness etching; Pullet vaccinations; Flock testing; Lower settings for crack tolerance; and Premium, see-through packaging with a tamper-proof option.

Born Free Eggs partnered with EggFusion, Inc., which provides the only USDA-authorized solution for applying permanent, tamper-proof laser-etched Freshness and Traceability Codes on the surface of individual eggshells.

Freshness Codes provide consumers a new tool for validating the freshness of each egg. The Traceability Codes will allow consumers and government officials to trace an egg to its source. A high-energy light beam etches codes onto the shell of each egg during the packing process, removing a fine layer of the eggshell (less than 10 percent) where the mark appears. The contents of the egg remain untouched and the shell's strength is unaltered.

Young hens or pullets are vaccinated against Salmonella Enteriditis (SE). The vaccines reduce the incidence of SE occurring in the eggs from these hens. SE causes gastrointestinal infections.

Through continuous testing for SE during the life cycle of the hen, the Born Free specifications provide further assurance that the eggs produced are safe. If there is a positive environmental test of the farms, the eggs are tested. If the eggs are tested and the test is positive, the eggs are diverted.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), egg-associated salmonellosis is an important public health issue in the United States. In affected parts of the United States, the CDC estimates that one consumer in 50, on average, could be exposed to a Salmonella contaminated egg each year. A healthy person's risk for infection by Salmonella enteritidis (SE) is low if individually prepared eggs are properly cooked. The Food Safety and Inspection Service/Food and Drug Administration seeks to reduce the incidence of egg-associated SE infections by 50 percent from 1998 to 2005 and to eliminate it entirely by 2010.

During the egg production/packing process, Born Free specifications require lower settings on crack checking equipment. This reduces the number of cracked eggs that reach the retail location.

Additionally, a three-piece, clear egg carton will provide superior protection of the egg shell integrity, a full view of the eggs, and an option for a tamper-proof seal. No need to open the carton to check for broken eggs, no guessing about the egg's freshness, and security in knowing no one has handled the eggs being bought.

Born Free Eggs are All Natural with no antibiotics and no artificial hormones, and are available in Organic (certified USDA Organic), Cage Free (free-roaming hens in an all-natural environment), Vegetarian Fed (hens are fed natural whole grain feed rich in soy protein) and Omega 3 (each egg contains at least 200 mg of Omega 3 fatty acids and 75 mg DHA) varieties