FDA requires all shell eggs that have not been treated to destroy what organism to have safe handling instructions posted on the cartons?

• A. Salmonella
• B. Escherichia coli
• C. Listeria monocytogenes
• D. Campylobacter

Answer: (A)

The key point is FDA labeling for shell eggs that haven’t been treated to kill a specific pathogen. When eggs aren’t pasteurized or otherwise treated to destroy Salmonella, the carton must carry safe handling instructions to help prevent illness from that organism. Salmonella is the primary safety concern with shell eggs because it can be present inside the egg or on the shell and cause illness if eggs are undercooked or mishandled, even when there are no obvious signs of spoilage. Pasteurized eggs, which have been treated to destroy Salmonella, are not required to carry those safe handling labels.

Other bacteria listed—E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter—are indeed pathogens in food, but the labeling requirement for raw shell eggs is specifically tied to Salmonella risk. E. coli is a broad group with varying risks and is not the focus of the egg carton instruction, Listeria is more associated with ready-to-eat refrigerated foods, and Campylobacter is more commonly linked to poultry meat than to shell eggs.