The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Iowa is looking for anyone who was sickened by Salmonella in 2010 by eggs produced by Quality Egg, LLC, also known as Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa. Between early 2010 and August of that same year, about 2,000 people were sickened with Salmonella bacteria that was linked to eggs produced by that corporation.
Environmental samples collected at the Wright County Egg facilities tested positive for the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis. Positive samples were found in the walkways, equipment, in manure at the farm, and in other surfaces in and around the facility. More than 500,000,000 eggs were recalled in August of 2010 as a result of that outbreak.
On June 3, 2014, Quality Egg LLC and two company officials, Jack DeCoster and his son, Peter DeCoster pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of “introducing adulterated eggs into interstate commerce.” Those officials admitted that the company’s shell eggs were adulterated; in other words, that they contained a poisonous and deleterious substance that may have rendered the eggs injurious to health. The DeCosters may face up to a year in prison.
Quality Egg also pled guilty to one count of bribery of a public official and one count of introducing a misbranded food into interstate commerce with intent to defraud. The company may be fined up to $6.8 million in fines.
If you were sickened in this outbreak, visit the Northern District of Iowa U.S. Attorney’s Office website or contact Shari Konarske, Victim-Witness Coordinator, at 319-363-6333 or at [email protected].
