Lithuania orders destruction of eggs contaminated by Salmonella

Lithuanian authorities have ordered the destruction of some eggs from Ukraine because of the detection of Salmonella.

The State Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT) prohibited the sale of medium sized white eggs in packs of 10 with a shelf life until Dec. 26, 2020. More than 38,000 cartons of eggs were affected.

An investigation into the marketing of potentially unsafe products was started after a notification on the European Union’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) and based on information from the retailer Lidl Lietuva.

Latvian officials submitted the RASFF alert with information that Ovostar Europe in Latvia imported the eggs from Ukraine and distributed them. Laboratory tests revealed microbiological contamination with Salmonella Coeln.

Eggs from this batch were purchased and distributed on the Lithuanian market by Lidl Lietuva. The product was sold in the stores of Lidl Lietuva from Dec. 4, 2020, according to a recall notice.

Intensified Latvian checks
VMVT banned Lidl Lietuva from placing eggs from this batch on the market. Samples of another batch of Ukrainian eggs were also taken in Lithuania and tested for Salmonella but results were negative.

A total of 78 egg samples were tested during planned and unannounced controls by VMVT inspectors in 2020 and Salmonella was not detected in any of them.

VMVT also carries out inspections to ensure that only safe eggs are placed on the market by visiting laying hen farms with about 200 samples taken annually. If there are any breaches, eggs are held at the farm or production site to stop them reaching the consumer.

Latvian officials confirmed in mid-December that Salmonella had been detected in one sample taken at the border of fresh chicken eggs originating in Ukraine and going to Lithuania. The sample was done as part of intensified checks on products from Ukraine.

In 2020, 509 samples of eggs and egg products originating in Ukraine have been tested in a laboratory under the stricter border controls, of which 198 have been examined for Salmonella and 311 samples for drug residues.

Only two samples of egg products have been positive for Salmonella. Officials said the types of products in which contamination is detected will continue to be subject to increased scrutiny.

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