FDA Proposes Egg Labeling Change
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday proposed to change food labeling rules to permit the egg industry to place a safe handling statement on the inside of egg cartons, as long as the statement -- "Keep Refrigerated" -- still appears on the side or top panel.
The proposed regulation would apply to shell eggs that haven't been treated to destroy Salmonella bacteria. If the rule is finalized, consumers would see the safe handling statement every time they open an egg carton.
Currently, the statement must appear on the top or side of the carton.
It's estimated that about 118,000 illnesses a year in the United States are caused by consumption of eggs contaminated with Salmonella, a bacterium that can cause an intestinal infection if ingested, the FDA said.
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