September 9/Flandreau, S.D./FDA Law Weekly -- In tandem with the Food and Drug Administration's quest to dramatically reduce Salmonella-related food poisoning, National Pasteurized Eggs (NPE) www.SafeEggs.com opened a new plant that more than doubles its production and expands Americans' access to eggs free from dangerous egg-related Salmonella-enteritidis.

Already the standard of care for nursing homes and hospitals that serve immune compromised individuals, pasteurized shell eggs are rapidly becoming the industry standard for consumers, chefs and foodservice executives taking preventative actions against foodborne illness for the diners they serve. NPE supplies pasteurized shell eggs to foodservice operators including leading restaurants, hospitals, entertainment venues and hotels, as well as more than 30 retail chains.

The new plant, located in Flandreau, S.D., will produce more than 240 million safe pasteurized shell eggs annually, marketed under the Davidson's Safest Choice brand name and marked with its trademarked red circle "P." NPE's award-winning pasteurized shell eggs are processed using an FDA-approved patented pasteurization process recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to inactivate Salmonella and avian influenza virus. The company will pasteurize more than one million Salmonella-free shell eggs daily between the new plant and its corporate headquarters plant outside Chicago.

From the September 14, 2009, Prepared Foods E-dition