US recalls millions of eggs for Salmonella

Midwest Poultry Services, L.P. recalled 1,589,577 dozen white shell eggs and brown cage-free shell eggs on July 22 after the products were flagged for possible Salmonella Enteritidis contamination, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The recall covers eggs produced in Texas and sold under multiple store and supplier labels, including Kroger, Simple Truth, Brookshire’s, Cal-Maine and Country Morning. (fda.gov) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the eggs have been linked to a multistate outbreak that has sickened 98 people in 17 states and hospitalized 26. (cdc.gov) No deaths had been reported in the CDC’s latest update. The FDA said the recalled eggs were distributed between June 6 and July 3, 2026, and sold in retail and foodservice packs ranging from six eggs to 60 eggs. Federal notices said the affected cartons carry sell-by or best-by dates from July 20 through Aug. 17, 2026. The recall applies only to cartons marked with plant code P-1950 or 0840962 and a Julian date between 157 and 184 printed on the side. ### Which eggs are actually included in the recall? The CDC said the recall covers both white shell eggs and brown cage-free shell eggs sold in bulk and consumer cartons. Named brands in federal and media notices include Kroger, Simple Truth, Brookshire’s, Cal-Maine Sunups and Country Morning. (fda.gov) The eggs were shipped to retail and foodservice customers in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, and were also available through smaller outlets in Arkansas, Mississippi and New Mexico. The FDA’s recall notice said the affected eggs came from Midwest Poultry Services operations in Texas. Consumers checking cartons need more than the brand name, because the recall is limited to specific date and plant-code combinations rather than every carton under those labels. (fda.gov) ### What should shoppers look for on the carton? Plant codes P-1950 or 0840962 are the clearest identifiers in the federal notices. The CDC said shoppers should also look for a Julian date from 157 to 184 and a sell-by or best-by date between July 20 and Aug. 17, 2026. Those codes are printed on the side of the carton, not just on the front label. (cdc.gov) NBC News, citing the federal guidance, reported that consumers with matching eggs should not eat them and should discard them or return them through the retailer. The FDA and CDC both said recalled eggs should not be sold, served or distributed. ### How large is the outbreak tied to the eggs? (fda.gov) The CDC said 98 illnesses had been reported across 17 states in its latest public update. Of those patients, 26 were hospitalized. The agency said epidemiologic and traceback evidence pointed investigators to the recalled shell eggs. Salmonella can cause diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, according to the FDA recall notice. (cdc.gov) The agency said infections can be more serious in young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. ### Why are some stories saying “millions of eggs” and others “millions of dozen”? (nbcnews.com) The FDA notice put the recall at 1,589,577 dozen eggs. That works out to a little more than 19 million individual eggs, which is why some reports describe the action as involving more than 19 million eggs rather than 1.6 million dozen. (cdc.gov) Federal agencies have kept the outbreak pages active as the date window on recalled cartons remains open into mid-August. The CDC outbreak page and the FDA recall notice both remain the primary references for updated case counts, affected products and disposal guidance through Aug. 17, 2026. (cdc.gov) (fda.gov)