CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES AMBITIOUS NEW PLAN TO IMPROVE EGG SAFETY,
REDUCE SALMONELLA ILLNESSES
                                                               
                                           Release No. 0483.99 


                             USDA: Andy Solomon (202) 720-4623 
                                FDA: Brad Stone (301) 827-6250 


CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES AMBITIOUS NEW PLAN TO IMPROVE EGG SAFETY,
REDUCE SALMONELLA ILLNESSES

     WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 1999 -- In his weekly radio address today,
President Clinton announced a comprehensive action plan to further improve the
safety of eggs and reduce by 50 percent Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) illnesses
in the United States by 2005.  

     "This ambitious plan is a bold step that will dramatically improve the
safety of eggs," said Health and Human Services Secretary Donna E. Shalala. 
"Working with the states, industry and consumers, we can achieve our public
health goal to eventually eliminate Salmonella illness from eggs."

     "This Administration has made food safety a national priority," said
Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman.  "President Clinton has requested
substantial funding increases each year for crucial investments in improving
food safety, including a nationwide early warning system for foodborne
illness, increased inspections, and expanded research and consumer education." 


     Under the new plan, egg producers and processors will implement one of
two strategies to improve egg safety.  Strategy I requires rigorous on-farm
agricultural and sanitation practices, extensive testing for SE, and diversion
of eggs to pasteurization or cooked product based on positive SE testing. 
Strategy II requires implementation of new technologies to kill the
potentially dangerous organism, such as "in shell pasteurization," at the
packer stage of production.  Both strategies should improve the safety of
shell eggs and processed egg products.

     Americans consume an average of 234 eggs per person per year.  Although
only an estimated 1 in 20,000 eggs in the U.S. contain SE bacteria, this
involves nearly 3.36 million eggs annually, exposing a large number of people
to SE.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates there
were 300,000 cases of SE in 1997, with regional trends showing a decrease in
the SE isolation rate in regions where egg quality assurance efforts are the
most intensive.  Children, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune
systems are especially vulnerable to SE infection.  The costs associated with
human salmonellosis due to SE are estimated to range from $150 million to $870
million annually.

The plan also provides a strategy to consolidate egg safety oversight.  The
Department of Health and Human Service's Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
and the Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
share federal regulatory responsibility for egg safety.  Under the plan, FDA
will develop consistent, nationwide on-farm preventive controls and enforce
them by contracting with the states while maintaining federal oversight.  FSIS
will develop and enforce standards at the packer/processor level.  CDC and FDA
will conduct surveillance and monitoring activities.

     While the Federal government continues to develop nationwide standards
through the public process, the action plan encourages the states and the egg
industry to adopt, in the interim, quality programs designed to reduce the
incidence of SE in eggs.  The voluntary state programs include a commitment
from producers to implement basic preventive measures, such as SE-free chicks,
rodent and pest control, cleaning and disinfecting between flocks,
environmental and/or egg testing, and refrigeration.  

     The action plan is the latest in a series of Clinton Administration
advances to reduce Salmonella illnesses.  On July 1, FDA published a proposal
to require safe-handling statements on labels of shell eggs to inform
consumers of the risk of illness caused by SE.  A uniform refrigeration
requirement for eggs and egg products is also being implemented.  FSIS is
planning to implement the science-based, prevention-oriented HACCP inspection
system for egg products.  
     The egg safety action plan is available on the web at www.foodsafety.gov 

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