Recalled eggs in Tri-State

LEBANON, Ohio - Inspectors with the Warren and Hamilton County Health Departments are taking an extra step to be sure restaurants are not using eggs recalled because of concern that they are contaminated with salmonella.

They visited 18 businesses Friday to make sure the recalled eggs are not being used or sold.

An Illinois company that distributes eggs from Wright County Egg in Iowa to Asian restaurants notified the health department that it delivered some of the recalled eggs to some Asian restaurants and one Russian grocery store in the Tri-State.

Inspectors from the health departments in both counties visited the businesses identified by the distributor Friday. They are concerned that because some of the people who run the businesses don't understand or speak English well they might not be aware of the recall.

Warren County has one confirmed case of salmonella but it has not yet been linked to the contaminated eggs. The tainted eggs, which come from two Iowa farms, are possibly linked to almost 24-hundred cases of salmonella-related illnesses nationwide.

Inspectors in Warren County said the recalled eggs could be in other restaurants and stores. However, they only received a list from one distributor identifying its businesses.

"We are not sure how far this has spread," said Warren County Health Inspector Carrie Yeager. "There is a possibility it could be in any of our restaurants or any of our grocery stores at this time. This is just the list we were given of people who definitely received the product," she said.

Health officials said you shouldn't become ill if the eggs are thoroughly cooked but they want to be sure restaurants aren't using the recalled eggs.

For more information visit the FDA's website at www.fda.gov.