The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has passed new egg safety rules designed to reduce the number of salmonella cases nationally. Under the new rules, large egg producers - who account for 80% of all eggs sold - can only buy chickens from suppliers who test for salmonella, must test the animals’ living spaces regularly for the bacteria, and must refrigerate eggs at 45 degrees Fahrenheit during storage and transportation. The FDA expects these regulations to prevent 79,000 cases of food-borne illness and 30 salmonella related deaths per year. Read more.

Chiquita Brands International is conducting a voluntary recall of its Fresh Express brand of Romaine lettuce-based ready-to-eat salads due to potential Salmonella contamination. Louisiana and several other states are included in this recall. Consumers are advised to discard any of the recalled lettuce products that carry a Use by Date that falls between May 13th and May 16th and has a “S” in the product code. Get more details on the recall.

A salmonella outbreak in some gourmet meat products has prompted a nationwide recall that includes meats being sold at Kroger food stores and all Wal-Marts in Louisiana. Click here for details about the recalled meat products.