Eggs affected by US recalls over Salmonella outbreak not available in UAE

The United Arab Emirates has assured consumers that eggs affected by a Salmonella outbreak in the United States are not available in the UAE. The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment reported this assurance after reviewing import records and local market data following investigations by US authorities. The outbreak, caused by Salmonella Enteritidis, led to the recall of Midwest Poultry Services' cage-free white and brown shell eggs.

These eggs were sold under various brands, including Country Morning, Cal-Maine Sunups, and Kroger, with sell-by or best-by dates from July 20 to August 17. The recalled eggs were sold both in bulk and at retail outlets. This is the second such reassurance for the UAE, following a similar confirmation on August 22 regarding GreenWise frozen berries recalled in the US for E. coli contamination.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 98 people across more than a dozen states have been infected with Salmonella from the recalled eggs, with 26 hospitalizations reported. Symptoms of Salmonella illness typically appear within 12 to 72 hours after consuming contaminated food and last four to seven days, causing diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps.

Children under five, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of severe infection. UAE authorities have conducted a formal verification process involving import screening and market surveillance to ensure the safety of local consumers and continue to monitor international food alerts.