How Would You Like Your Eggs: A History of U.S. Egg Regulation and Current Controversies

Abstract

Government regulatory efforts concerning eggs are in the news due to a serious salmonella outbreak during the summer of 2010. Given the widespread concern this outbreak raised, there are already anecdotal reports of a negative impact on egg demand. This paper attempts to look at one aspect of eggs as a food commodity: the legal regime that regulates eggs as an item in the food supply. First, it will attempt an initial historical exploration of egg regulation in the 20th century. A web of different legal authorities sometimes seem to run overlapping circles around each other. The paper will address recent significant changes in egg safety regulation, driven mostly by the Food and Drug Administration and legislative changes to the overall food safety system. It will close by reviewing the recent salmonella enteritidis scare and possible future changes in the egg regulation system.