The veterinary department said only one farm, codenamed “CES 008” exported eggs to Singapore. The eggs went through heat treatment at processing plants in Kapar and Meru. The department said the eggs had never been sold locally.

The salmonella enteritidis bacterium causes diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting. The bacterium can be destroyed if the eggs are cooked well.

Sales of “CES 008” eggs from Lay Hong Bhd’s farm in Jeram were suspended in Singapore on Friday, and its exports to the republic were suspended.

The veterinary department said it was conducting tests for salmonella on all Lay Hong farms. “The company has agreed to implement more frequent corrective and monitoring activities to improve its biosecurity controls,” the department said.

The CES 008 eggs produced by the farm are not allowed to be sold until test results are available. The recalled eggs in Singapore will not be allowed back to Malaysia, the department said.

Company says its other farms have tested negative

Lay Hong said it would offer its full cooperation with the veterinary department and strengthen farm control practices and monitoring.

Yap Chor How, the company’s executive director, said no eggs will be sold from Jeram 1 farm until investigations are completed, Bernama reported.

All its other farms in Jeram have been tested negative for salmonella, he said. The farms are divided into smaller satellite farms and separated from one another.