Ag Secretary , Egg Executive Speak Out On Egg Safety WHITEMARSH (Montgomery Co.) It starts with the chick and results in a safer egg. That was the theme of an event here recently at Clemens Market to highlight PEQAP, the farm-to fork Pennsylvania Egg Quality Assurance Program. “Egg safety is especially im portant as we start a season of warm-weather activities and con sumption of many eggs and egg based foods, and it is especially timely as we hear about food safety concerns in other nations,” said Paul D. Sauder, president, Sauder’s Quality Eggs. “We want shoppers to look for the PEQAP seal so they can to take advan tage of our state’s premier egg safety program.” Joining Sauder to promote PEQAP was Pennsylvania Secre tary of Agriculture Samuel E. Hayes. The department helped develop the program and sup ports PEQAP consumer educa tion efforts. “Most consumers know eggs are an economical source of im portant nutrients and part of a balanced diet. We want them to know that PEQAP eggs are pro duced with safety, as well as high quality and low price, in mind,” Sauder noted. Sauder, one of the founders of the PEQAP program, delivers 150 million dozen eggs a year to the northeastern U.S. market through supermarket chains and independent grocers. Sauder’s is a Lancaster-based, family-owned business established in the 19305. To increase consumer aware ness, Sauder’s has erected PEQAP billboards along 1-95 in the Philadelphia area, north of the Street Road exit and south of Model 6018 L and 6020 L The only tractor with a lifetime drive train warranty. Great standard features include power steering, two speed transaxle 4,7 cubic foot bucket with easy single lever control Standard hydraulic rear PTO and 3 pt. hitch allow for over 15 optional attachments DISTRIBUTORS, INC. 311 Willow St., Terre Hill, PA 17581 717-445-8431 the Alle gheny Ave nue exit, where they can be seen by hun dreds of thousands of people each day. “The consumer wins be cause through PEQ AP, the industry and govern ment are working to gether, tap ping our ex pertise and resources to institute manage ment prac tices that minimize Salmonella enteritidis contami nation of chicken (shell) eggs,” said Sauder. Salmonella enteritidis may in fect the ovaries of healthy-ap pearing hens and contaminate an egg before the shell is formed. People eating contaminated eggs that aren’t properly prepared can suffer flu-like symptoms, usually within 12 to 72 hours after con sumption. The illness usually lasts four to seven days and can be most serious for infants, the elderly, and those with impaired immune systems. Launched in 1994, PEQAP is the nation’s first egg safety pro gram and is even more stringent than the federal program that Tractor with Loader LAWN CARE At Clemens Markets, from left, Paul Sauder, Sauder’s Eggs; Julie Sollenberger, 2001 Pennsylvania Fair Queen; Sam Hayes, Pennsylvania secretary of agriculture; and Jack Clemens, Clemens Markets. Ingersoll was proposed in 1999 and imple mented in 2001. “We know that food safety is high on the list of public concerns and believe the investment in the PEQAP process is well worth the cost for the added safety assur ance,” Sauder said. “And it’s good business, since buying eggs with the PEQAP seal should be a consumer priority.” PEQAP addresses potential contamination in all the steps of egg production, from purchase of chicks through the refrigeration of the egg. To win the PEQAP seal, producers must follow best management practices, such as: • Egg testing. • Monitoring and testing of • Standard Power Steering • Single Lever Forward & Reverse • Single Lever Boom Control • Single Lever Crowd & Bucket • Quick Setting Stabilizer Pads • Low Weight Won’t Compact Turf • Model 60208 H veloped by the state’s Department of Agricul ture with PennAg Industries As sociation and leaders of the egg and poultry industry. PEQAP also is supported by Penn State University, the University of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Animal Health Commission, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the federal Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutri tion. Consumers who eat about three billion eggs a year in Penn sylvania, or 245 per person can continue egg safety precautions with these storage and prepara tion steps; Designed and built from the ground up, this unit meets tough standards for easy operation. Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 9,2001-A2l chicks, pullets (young hens) and layers. • Manure sam pling and cultur ing. • Biosecurity precautions at farms, such a bio security suits and disinfecting pro cesses for visitors. • Criteria for processing and packaging, includ ing employee and package sanita tion. • Carton cod ing and record keeping. • Rodent con trol. About 22.5 mil lion layer chickens are monitored under the pro gram that was de- Loader Backhoe • Buy eggs with the PEQAP symbol. • Keep eggs refrigerated. • Refrigerate cooked eggs and egg-containing foods. • Don’t undercook eggs (whites and yolks should not be runny). • Wash hands thoroughly after handling raw foods, includ ing eggs. Also participating in the con sumer education event at the Clemens were Jim Shirk, assist ant vice president, PennAg Poul try Council, and Ron Hunsberg er, Clemens store manager. Pennsylvania is the nation’s fourth largest egg producer (after Ohio, California, and Iowa), pro ducing about 5.8 billion eggs an nually for in-state consumption and export. Pennsylvania is the largest food processing state in the northeast and one of the only states with significant employ ment in most sectors of the food industry. FORAGING AROUND the newsletter of the Pennsylvania Forage and Grassland Council (PFGC), includes several farm features with a focus on pasture quality. The special summer section will be included with Lancaster Farming July 14. Another section, the fall PFGC issue, is scheduled Sept. 15.
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