National Pasteurized Eggs opens new state-of-the-art egg pasteurizing plant

Sep 3 2009

In tandem with the Food and Drug Administration's quest to dramatically reduce Salmonella-related food poisoning, National Pasteurized Eggs (NPE) www.SafeEggs.com, the country's largest shell egg pasteurizer, opened a new state-of-the-art plant that more than doubles its production and expands Americans' access to eggs free from dangerous egg-related Salmonella-enteritidis.

Already the standard of care for nursing homes and hospitals that serve immune compromised individuals, pasteurized shell eggs are rapidly becoming the industry standard for consumers, chefs and food service executives taking preventative actions against food borne-illness for the diners they serve. NPE supplies pasteurized shell eggs to food service operators including leading restaurants, hospitals, entertainment venues and hotels, as well as more than 30 retail chains such as Publix Supermarkets, Harris Teeter, Giant Eagle, Roundy's Supermarkets, Copps Food Centers, Rainbow Grocery, Jewel-Osco, HEB Supermarkets, Bristol Farms and Piggly Wiggly.

"The pasteurized egg category is the fastest growing segment in the egg industry, and food safety conscious hotels, restaurants and hospitals that serve breakfast are making the proactive choice to use the very safest eggs possible, regardless of whether or not they serve immune-compromised populations," said Greg West, president of National Pasteurized Eggs. "Food safety is also a driving force for consumers at grocery stores, and their requests for safe pasteurized shell eggs have resulted in nine new retail chains adding our product in this quarter alone."

The new plant, located in Flandreau, S.D., will produce more than 240 million safe pasteurized shell eggs annually, marketed under the Davidson's Safest Choice brand name and marked with its trademarked red circle "P." NPE's award-winning pasteurized shell eggs are processed using an FDA-approved patented pasteurization process recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to inactivate Salmonella and avian influenza virus. The company will pasteurize more than one million Salmonella-free shell eggs daily between the new plant and its corporate headquarters plant outside Chicago.

Earlier this year, the FDA announced new plans to reduce Salmonella spread through eggs. Approximately 142,000 Americans are infected with egg-related Salmonella-enteritidis annually, according to the FDA.

The Flandreau facility, which will add up to 60 new jobs to South Dakota, is being operated in conjunction with Dakota Layers, LLP, a cooperative egg laying farm founded by more than 120 farm families predominantly from South Dakota. West said the company selected South Dakota due to its abundance of great tasting eggs and the farms' dedication to poultry health and safety.

Source: http://www.SafeEggs.com