Health Canada Guidance on Reducing the Risk of Salmonella Enteritidis in Shell Eggs Produced in Canada

The document, Health Canada Guidance on Reducing the Risk of Salmonella Enteritidis in Shell Eggs Produced in Canada, is intended to provide guidance to reduce the risk of foodborne illness due to Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Enteritidis (hereafter referred to as S. Enteritidis) in shell eggs.

Bureau of Microbial Hazards
Food Directorate
Health Products and Food Branch

Issue Date: September 2013
Effective Date: December 2013

Summary

The document provides guidance on intervention strategies to reduce the risk of S. Enteritidis in shell eggs produced by domestic hens (Gallus gallus) offered for sale on the table market in Canada. Guidance is provided regarding best practices for the egg industry, provincial/territorial and federal governments, primary breeders and egg-type multiplier flocks, and portions of the pullet, hatchery and broiler industries that can affect the presence of S. Enteritidis in the egg industry. The information contained in this document is based on the current state of scientific evidence.

This guidance represents a consensus-based standard that should be implemented in the industry on a voluntary basis with the possibility of regulatory backstops in the future, if warranted.

Food safety enforcement bodies at the federal, provincial and territorial level may use this guidance document as a reference to assess adherence of the egg industry to good agricultural practices as it relates to the reduction of S. Enteritidis in shell eggs. Thus, this guidance may be used to assess compliance with general requirements of food safety legislation or regulations, in particular, compliance with Sections 4 and 7 of the  Food and Drugs Act.

Guidance Document

To obtain an electronic copy of the document, Guidance on Reducing the Risk of Salmonella Enteritidis in Shell Eggs Produced in Canada, please contact our publications office or send an e-mail to publications@hc-sc.gc.ca with the subject heading "HPFB BMH Guidance Salmonella Enteritidis Shell Eggs".

Contact Information

If you wish to contact the Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate electronically, please use the words "Salmonella Enteritidis" in the subject line of your e-mail.

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