San Diego County Public Health identifies egg company as source of salmonella outbreak

RAMONA, Calif. (NBC, KYMA) - A Ramona, California egg rancher is pushing back on a San Diego County Public Health findings identifying the company as a source of a salmonella outbreak.

Investigators believe raw unpasteurized eggs from the Happy Hens Farm, used to make mayonnaise at the Ramona Family Naturals Market, made several people sick.

However, they are questioning the county's findings.

Happy Hens owner Chloe Nevarez is so confident in the safety of her chicken eggs, she drinks them raw.

"We are literally doing things in a way that passes so many standards that are out there because we want to provide a product that is actually healthy," Nevarez expressed.

County health officials announced the connection between Happy Hens and the salmonella outbreak Monday.

According to investigators, happy hens unpasteurized eggs were used to make mayonnaise in the deli at ramona family naturals market.

The county said 22 people got sick. Seven of them had to be hospitalized.

Nevarez said nine of the people that were ill had the same genotyping, but the health department didn't get a test sample from her farm.

"All nine of those people had salmonella from either chicken or eggs but how that links back to our farm again is null and void," she shared. "There is no connection."

Nevarez family members have been chicken ranchers for decades. They supply grocery stores but maintain a flock of around 14,000 birds. That's a tenth of the large egg producers.

"We're really focused on the health conscious person. We deliver eggs all over San Diego, Los Angeles and up through the central coast," Nevarez remarked.

The county said it's working closely with State Food and Agriculture and the California Department of Public Health.

In part of an email in response to NBC affiliate KNSD's questions, spokesperson Tim McClain wrote, "So far, all the known cases are in the county of San Diego as the investigation continues. Cases have been connected to both the market and the egg farm."

Still, there is no mention of the investigators' specific evidence connecting Happy Hens.

"It's absolutely frustrating," Nevarez spoke. "As soon as they heard there were raw eggs in the mayonnaise, they were that's it. Most likely cause. They did not test the mayonnaise."

Happy Hens is taking a financial hit, with Nevarez saying it's thousands of dollars. So far, there is no recall of their eggs and to Nevarez, little opportunity to defend their family business.

A spokesperson for Ramona Family Naturals Market declined an on camera interview, but did say, "The results aren't conclusive. We are working with the health department. We very much appreciate our customer support."