Free range eggs does not mean safe eggs: an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium linked to free range eggs

An outbreak of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium with closely related Multiple Locus Variable-number Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA) patterns was detected by routine surveillance by the Australian Capital Territory Health Protection Service in May 2018. The outbreak consisted of three cases in 2018 (MLVA 03-10-10-09-496) and one in 2016 (MLVA 03-10-09-09-496), who reported eating home-cooked eggs from the same local producer. Environmental investigations found significant problems with egg cleaning, hand hygiene and documentation of food safety procedures on farm. Environmental samples collected from the farm were found to have the same MLVA pattern as the 2018 cases. Although poor farm practices most likely led to contamination of the eggs, this outbreak highlights the need for consumer education about safe handling of eggs in the home.