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As they say, this story has legs. First, the biggest egg recall in human history, from two Iowa farms. Then, revelations that the guy in charge of one of the farms and closely tied to the other, Austin "Jack" DeCoster, had a history of violations and lawsuits. Here's a primer on the most shocking stuff about the egg recall and the controversial farming family behind it.
1. Accidents. In the 1970s, so many teenagers were getting in accidents working at DeCoster Maine egg farms that the state had to revamp its child labor laws. "Kids were always being hurt there," said James Tierney, a former Maine attorney general. (From the Chicago Tribune)
2. Poisonings. DeCoster opened up shop in Maryland shortly thereafter, with more huge egg operations. But then some people got sick, including 11 who died from salmonella poisoning in a New York hospital that imported his eggs. In 1988 New York banned DeCoster's eggs from the state. (From the Washington Post)
3. Pollution. Wooed by Wright County officials in the 1980s, DeCoster moved into Iowa, where he has grown his stock to 7.5 million chickens and 27,000 hogs. The office of Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller labeled DeCoster as the state’s first “habitual violator” of state environmental laws. Manure from DeCoster's farms polluted Iowa's water at least 10 times between 1993 and 2000. (From the Iowa Independent)
4. Alleged rapes. Female workers claim they were raped or sexually harassed at DeCoster's Iowa egg farms by their supervisors. The suit was settled for $1.5 million, in 2002. DeCoster "is kind of an enigma," said Karen Wolf, who represented workers in a discrimination case. (From the Chicago Tribune)
5. Illegals. In 2003, DeCoster was busted for employing illegal aliens. (From the Atlantic)
6. Corpses. A neighbor observed the company frequently dumped hog "corpses out into the open to be picked up by whoever runs the rendering plant up in Belmond [Iowa]." (From the Atlantic)
7. Politics. Since 1999 Jack DeCoster and family have made more than $500,000 in political contributions—all of it to Democrats, and much of it to Iowa Democrats. (From the Iowa Independent)
8. Neglect. Despite his history, the FDA never inspected DeCoster's Iowa facilities until three weeks ago. (From the Chicago Tribune)
9. Leaking manure. One FDA report "describes Wright County Egg as filthy, rat and fly-infested and so overflowing with manure that in several cases doors could not be closed. The other, Hillandale Farms, had multiple unsealed rodent holes into its henhouses, liquid manure leaking from a manure pit and as many as 50 escaped hens tracking manure into the henhouse." (From USA Today)
10. You're next. The FDA now plans to inspect all the really big egg producers in the country. It will give itself 15 months to do so, though, so consider that timeframe next time you order a Caesar salad at the airport. (From the Associated Press)
Good info. However, there's nothing "Holy" about shit!
I really don't want to raise my own eggs but if they start pasteurizing them I will have to. It is bad enough they turn all milk into white wash with no flavor in this country. Interestingly enough, in several years I checked, despite not using American pasteurization, France had significantly less food born illness. This is about people being dirty and they should be made to clean up. They...+READ
I really don't want to raise my own eggs but if they start pasteurizing them I will have to. It is bad enough they turn all milk into white wash with no flavor in this country. Interestingly enough, in several years I checked, despite not using American pasteurization, France had significantly less food born illness. This is about people being dirty and they should be made to clean up. They shouldn't make the rest of us suffer poor quality food instead.-COLLAPSE
To those touting pasteurized eggs: these recalled eggs will have a new life as pasteurized eggs, under a new brand, and they'll still be loaded with chemicals. I'm sticking with my local, unpasteurized, unrefrigerated farm eggs.
Steamers: riiiiggghhhhttt. Sorry, who's the party of deregulation and big business?
Well, actually, it's both of them, these days. But one primarily. As for: "illegals are dirty"? WOW. How sad and mean. Please tell me I'm missing the point and that you're joking.
To Steamers: Don't recall too many people of color in Iowa. Isn't that also where a lot of mormons live who believe in poligamy and rape children who they claim as their wives. And then for the boys the Catholic priest finish the job. Don't ever recall mexicans, blacks or asians involved in any of this.
"couldn't appear in blog comments or letters-to-the-editor at the Boston Globe, NY Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, SF Chronicle, etc., etc.?"
Those "respected" publications are either in bankruptcy, or on the verge of filing for bankruptcy. Maybe they are the ones who need to rethink their headlines instead of publishing PR releases from this criminal Administration in DC.
Illegals are dirty and criminals. Send them back to Mexico. But that won't happen until the Democrats stop taking bribes like they did from this egg farm.
i believe i had about 5 different posts removed from "dried animal dung as fuel for the grill" thread in the not about food section last night, all due to my use of the key word in the above title. All of which were comical (I thought). This isnt even funny......what a double standard!
Agreeing with the last few comments re the ill choice of words used in the headline. Be corny, be catty, but potty? No...not on a site about food please.
So, does anyone still eat raw cookie dough?
Agreeing with alkapal. Can't you do better than using "fowl" language? Pardon the pun, but please, clean up your stinky vocabulary. That word should never be used around discussions of food. Blech.
My 'Holy Shit!' about the egg recall was that 550M eggs is only 10% of the yearly consumption.
using the word "shit" in the title? REALLY? is that what you've got in your vast repertoire? you are getting tackier. first it was "puke and poop" and now "shit." BRAVO, CHOW editors! well done!
To the people saying that the commentors protesting the use of the word "illegals" don't care about the real problems outlined in the article: you are being silly. We all can agree that killing people is bad, so it doesn't need to be stated in every post. One can assume a generalized "OH NO THE HORRORS" opinion about everything else is being left out because it is obvious. If you feel that the...+READ
To the people saying that the commentors protesting the use of the word "illegals" don't care about the real problems outlined in the article: you are being silly. We all can agree that killing people is bad, so it doesn't need to be stated in every post. One can assume a generalized "OH NO THE HORRORS" opinion about everything else is being left out because it is obvious. If you feel that the de-humanizing language used in the article is the best choice, you are free to make your argument, but let's leave the red herring in the recipe section.-COLLAPSE
Ugh. Intolerance on CH...I suppose even ignorant people like to eat good food.
can we really try not to call undocumented workers "illegals"?? please, people. we are in 2010.
#5 is not shocking, it's just plain silly. Anyone who knows the egg industry knows that people who can work legally in the U.S. do not deign to dig eggs out of chicken shit. #5 gets a big who cares from me unless they were forcing people to work in subpar conditions.
It's possible that some good will come of this - that the broader number of Americans will be interested that cheap mass-produced food often is the result of nightmare conditions for humans, animals, and the environment, and will demand change.
"PC is bad for America and bad for humans. In my book, it stands for Poppy-Cock."
That is a ridiculously blanket statement. The tenets of PC—to recognize that language has a historical impact on the people it's been used to marginalize and belittle—are humanistic and geared toward making the world a slightly better place. See last week's etiquette column. PC isn't law; you can ignore it all you...+READ
"PC is bad for America and bad for humans. In my book, it stands for Poppy-Cock."
That is a ridiculously blanket statement. The tenets of PC—to recognize that language has a historical impact on the people it's been used to marginalize and belittle—are humanistic and geared toward making the world a slightly better place. See last week's etiquette column. PC isn't law; you can ignore it all you want and say what you want (God forbid citizens of the US shouldn't be able to do exactly what they want when they want no matter whom it might hurt!). But don't go calling PC the problem. I've never felt oppressed by calling people by the term they prefer to be called by.
On that note, while I curse up a blue streak myself online, I agree with Harry N. that I don't understand when or why Chow started throwing WTF and its ilk around in titles. It's been happening a lot lately and it seems so disingenuous/calculated to appeal to hipsters, since the editorial voice is otherwise squeaky-clean.-COLLAPSE
sadly, nobody cares...all they see is a dozen eggs for 2.29 and don't have any idea what things are done to make that price point. I pay 5.00 a dozen for free range eggs from a local farmer and at a dozen every 2 weeks or so, my budget can handle it. Others only see the low price, not the corners cut to make it happen
I can't believe anyone would be ignorant enough to be worried about being PC about illegal aliens, (i.e., invaders) that they would readily overlook all the other crimes committed by this dufus farmer who thinks nothing of hurting others for a buck. Personally, I have my own hens and collect and sell eggs and don't have to worry about all that stuff. BTW, I realize this is about food and cooking,...+READ
I can't believe anyone would be ignorant enough to be worried about being PC about illegal aliens, (i.e., invaders) that they would readily overlook all the other crimes committed by this dufus farmer who thinks nothing of hurting others for a buck. Personally, I have my own hens and collect and sell eggs and don't have to worry about all that stuff. BTW, I realize this is about food and cooking, etc., but what about the word "illegal" is incorrect? Black is black and blue is blue. Someone needs to go back to school and learn some definitions. PC is bad for America and bad for humans. In my book, it stands for Poppy-Cock. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line; dn't dance around the bush with ignorant terms.-COLLAPSE
All of these startling allegations, and you're so boringly uncreative that you still need the shock value of a headline that couldn't appear in blog comments or letters-to-the-editor at the Boston Globe, NY Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, SF Chronicle, etc., etc.? Roll on, Great Chowbert, roll on.
I agree Danna. Everyone has such misplaced PC issues in this country, it is essentially crippling our nation, turning so many people into whiny little sheep. People died, gave their lives for our freedom, our rights, and you're going to jump on some bandwagon, protesting the use of the word "illegals"? Grow up.
I go with organic humanely produced eggs, it's at least a higher level of accountability. I expect the farms are smaller too. There's a movement in my area to allow backyard hens, if it goes through, I'll give it a try. I happened to meet an FDA facilities inspector recently. She became a vegetarian.
The crazy thing, JosephineBellamy, is that the rest of the stuff in the refrigerated section IS pasteurized. That and that the FDA, which spends their time and taxpayer money harassing local, small-time producers and distributors, health foods companies and raw milk producers, can't be bothered to prevent a man with a history of flagrant public health violations and an obvious complete disregard...+READ
The crazy thing, JosephineBellamy, is that the rest of the stuff in the refrigerated section IS pasteurized. That and that the FDA, which spends their time and taxpayer money harassing local, small-time producers and distributors, health foods companies and raw milk producers, can't be bothered to prevent a man with a history of flagrant public health violations and an obvious complete disregard for public health from murdering people with food poisoning through intentional abuse and neglect.-COLLAPSE
I agree, danna!
Rape, pollution, implied corruption, poisoning and death...and yet the thing that stands out to some commenters most is a failure to be excrutiatingly PC while referencing illegal workers.
Well put. I LOVE CH and am bummed to have run into "Illegals" during my time here.
Amusing enough article, but "illegals" is flat out offensive and I'd rather it wasn't part of my CH experience.
Pretty sure immigrants seeking work to support their families are BREAKING THE LAW if they are here illegally.
#5. Instead of "Illegals" this should read -- "Exploitation." Our unemployment rate in the U.S. is soaring. There is no shortage of people to fill the jobs, just a shortage of employers willing to pay a decent wage. Employers are to blame for this, not immigrants that are seeking work to support their families.
And so is tgordo49.
doughartyc is too right by half.
Great article. This guy deserves to go in prison. He must have been paid big shots big money to survive so long untouched.
Who in their right mind orders a Caesar Salad at the airport?!?
For me, the best solution is to buy eggs from a reputable local producer. Cage free, no homones or antibiotics, and drastically smaller operation gives me peace of mind that the chickens were humanely treated, and the eggs are as safe to eat as possible. Same goes for chicken, beef, etc.
I don't get it at all. The article states deCoster essentially murdered 11 people via salmonella poisoning and the guy was never dragged off to jail. Who does he know and who does he pay to ensure he is not prosecuted?
You mean stop buying eggs would make the egg producers change things? Almost like if we stopped driving, gas prices would come down? It will never happen...
Local eggs can still have bacteria, it is a naturally occuring organism! Buy pasteurized shell eggs to be sure there is no bacteria or salmonella. Eggs are the only thing in the refridge dairy section that isn't pasteurized, that's crazy. I found these at my local grocer when i started looking two weeks ago! Davidson's Safest Choice, www.safeeggs.com
You don't have to give up eggs. Most places you can find local egg producers. It is really not that hard. You might even be able to keep backyard chickens. They are easy to keep and really fun pets too.
But imagine, if we all just stopped buying supermarket eggs, as we should, because they are DISGUSTING, the egg producers might be motivated to change a few things.
And fresh eggs laid by...+READ
You don't have to give up eggs. Most places you can find local egg producers. It is really not that hard. You might even be able to keep backyard chickens. They are easy to keep and really fun pets too.
But imagine, if we all just stopped buying supermarket eggs, as we should, because they are DISGUSTING, the egg producers might be motivated to change a few things.
And fresh eggs laid by happy healthy chickens? They taste nothing like that crap from the supermarket. Bake anything with good fresh eggs and people think you are a genius baker.-COLLAPSE