Occurrence of Salmonella spp. in consumption eggs in Poland.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of Salmonellae on egg shells in markets in Olsztyn, Poland. An investigation carried out by the Sanitary and Epidemiological Station into cases of food poisoning caused in Poland by Salmonella spp. in recent years showed that the largest number of outbreaks is connected with consuming foods containing hens eggs which had not undergone heat treatment, such as mayonnaise, creams, ice-cream and other products. The world egg production amounts to 400 billion, in Poland it reaches the level of around 8 billion per year. A total of 1200 eggs were purchased in 40 local markets in Olsztyn were examined for the presence of Salmonella between June 1997 and December 1998. Salmonella was not found on the shell or inside the eggs. From this study it would appear that the incidence of Salmonellae on eggs from Olsztyn shops is very low.