Aug. 25--Recalls of faulty products or tainted foods should be expected. The worldwide commerce system is simply too large to be perfect.

On the other hand, the problems that necessitated the recent recall of more than a half-billion eggs are the latest in a long list of similar actions that probably could have been prevented.

The eggs in question were likely contaminated with salmonella, a particularly nasty bacteria that produces symptoms of diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever eight to 72 hours after eating a tainted product.

More than 1,300 reported cases of such symptoms were linked to two egg farms in Iowa. Thankfully, none of the eggs reached Palouse-area retailers.

There have been no reported deaths yet but salmonella poisoning can be life-threatening to those with weakened immune systems.

The contamination comes from fecal matter found on the shells, which can easily find its way onto food by improper handling -- touch an egg, touch food.

So far the Food and Drug Administration -- one of the federal watchdogs of our food supply -- has determined the two egg farms shared suppliers and also had ties to an Iowa business routinely cited for violating state and federal law, according to an Associated Press story.

Ensuring the nation's egg supply is safe is no easy task. The industry produces more than 80 billion eggs for sale in the shell per year.

The FDA is tasked with inspecting shell eggs, while the U.S. Department of Agriculture inspects processed eggs. Two agencies riding herd on one food product doesn't make the process more efficient. Add the somewhat toothless bite of the FDA, and you arrive at the current egg recall.

Things were a lot simpler when mom-and-pop operations were cited by government agencies.

Now, it seems, the megaproducers flex a little muscle and citations disappear in a tidal wave of paperwork.

Rules are put into place for all to abide by -- not just those who can't afford not to.

But in order to enforce the rules, the FDA and others need to have the authority necessary to do the job.

We know of some 1,300 people who would agree.

- Murf Raquet, for the editorial board

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