KUALA LUMPUR – The Veterinary Services Department has taken follow-up action by visiting and conducting an investigation on Lay Hong Bhd’s CES 008 farm in Jeram, Selangor, to identify the cause of salmonella enteritidis contamination that led to a recall of the company’s eggs in Singapore.
The department in a statement yesterday said it has begun tracing the source of the infection, besides checking egg production, and records of vaccinations and disease surveillance programmes on the farm.
“Eggs from the CES 008 farm are not allowed to be sold in the local market as table eggs until the results of the investigation are obtained. Eggs from this farm are for the production of only egg products that undergo heat treatment at the company’s processing plant in Kapar and Meru, Selangor.
“The department has also conducted inspections and sampling for salmonella testing on all farms owned by Lay Hong Bhd to ensure the company’s farm eggs are bacteria-free.”
It said salmonellosis is among the diseases monitored at all poultry farms in Malaysia through the National Animal Disease Surveillance Programme.
It added that the suspension of egg exports from the CES 008 farm for the Singapore market does not affect exports from other farms, as well as supply for the local market.
On Saturday, it was reported that Singapore had instructed four importers in the country to recall eggs produced by Lay Hong Bhd Layer Farm Jeram in Malaysia, as a precautionary measure.
The Singapore Food Agency said the directive is made following the discovery of salmonella, which can cause foodborne illnesses if the product is eaten raw or half-cooked. – Bernama, March 15, 2021
