Raw shell eggs recalled because of potential contamination with salmonella were distributed in the Upper Peninsula and northern lower Michigan, The Chippewa County Health Department announced Wednesday, August 25.

Eggs affected by the recall were distributed to some retail grocery stores and food service companies that supply restaurants, patient care facilities such a nursing homes, and senior citizens centers.

The recalled shell eggs are packaged under the following brand names: Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph’s, Boomsma’s, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps. A full listing of recalled eggs is available online at www.fda.gov.

Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Eating food contaminated with salmonella can result in abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and fever. Most people infected with salmonella develop the symptoms 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment. In some persons, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. People experiencing any of these symptoms are advised to seek medical care.

Consumers or food establishments who believe they may have purchased recalled eggs should not eat or serve them but should throw them out or return the eggs to the store or supplier where they were purchased.

The health department recommends fully cooking eggs (to 145° F) prior to consumption and washing hands after handling raw shell eggs.

For “over easy” eggs, purchasing pasteurized shell eggs is a safe option.

For a complete list of those recalled egg products including lot and product numbers, visit www.chippewahd.com.