Salmonella detected at New Zealand egg production farm

Salmonella Enteritidis has been detected on a New Zealand North island egg production farm, leaving the country’s regulator to place precautionary movement restrictions.

New Zealand Food Safety has been carrying out tracing and testing of poultry operations after the same Salmonella strain was found at an Auckland hatchery that supplies chicks to other operators, earlier this year.

New Zealand Food Safety director of food regulation Dr Paul Dansted said to date no eggs had tested positive. However, it was possible that some eggs could contain Salmonella Enteritidis so it was prudent to provide advice to consumers.

“No product is leaving the farm at present while we carry out more investigations. It’s important to note the positive results are not from eggs, but from samples from within the farm,” he said.

“While the risk is low, we are taking this precautionary action as we are not yet in a position to assure consumers that Salmonella Enteritidis is not in some eggs.”

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Brooke Becker