Agencies and eggs

Citizen groups that keep an eye on food safety are posing some tough questions of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in regard to the salmonella outbreak linked to eggs.

USDA staff members were regularly on the site at two Iowa egg processors where half a billion eggs had to be recalled due to the outbreak that reportedly sickened 1,500 people across the country.

The agency's egg graders were on the job for numerous hours at Wright County Egg and Hillendale Farms, USA Today reports. They were inspecting eggs, but not the surroundings, apparently.

Rodents and wild birds can spread salmonella. There were plenty of both at the two facilities, according to reports. Rodents, rodent holes wild birds, flies and other vermin were discovered by inspectors from the Food and Drug Administration.

The USDA has argued that its authority is limited, even though its regulations prohibit conditions that would draw vermin both inside buildings and at "outside premises."

The FDA took note of the vermin problems, and the rest is history.

As Tony Corbo of Food & Water Watch asked about the USDA personnel, "In light of what FDA saw, why didn't these guys see the same thing in terms of raising red flags?"

Good question.