CDC tracks 98 Salmonella illnesses linked to eggs

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on July 24 that it was investigating a multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to recalled shell eggs, with 98 illnesses, 26 hospitalizations and no deaths reported across 17 states. The Food and Drug Administration said the eggs were recalled by Midwest Poultry Services, L.P. on July 22 after investigators linked epidemiologic, laboratory and traceback data to shell eggs produced and distributed by the company in Texas. The recall covers white shell eggs and brown cage-free shell eggs sold under multiple brands, with sell-by or best-by dates from July 20 through Aug. 17, 2026. ### Which eggs are covered by the recall? Midwest Poultry Services, L.P. recalled 1,589,577 dozen eggs, according to the FDA’s recall notice. The affected eggs were produced in Texas between June 6 and July 3 and were shipped to foodservice and retail customers in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, the agency said. Recalled cartons were also sold at Kroger stores in Texas and Louisiana, Brookshire Grocery stores in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, and other smaller retail and foodservice outlets in those states plus Mississippi and New Mexico. (cdc.gov) The FDA said the recalled eggs were sold under brand names including Kroger, Simple Truth, Brookshire’s, Cal-Maine, Country Morning and Cal-Maine Sunups. Only cartons marked with plant codes P-1950 or 0840962 and Julian dates between 157 and 184 are included in the recall, according to the FDA and CDC. ### How broad is the outbreak? (cdc.gov) The CDC said illnesses were reported from 17 states as of July 24, with Texas accounting for 73 of the 98 cases. Louisiana had five cases, Arizona had four, Georgia and New Mexico had two each, and 10 other states had one case apiece, according to the agency’s case map. (cdc.gov) The CDC said illness onset dates ranged from Nov. 21, 2025, to June 30, 2026. The agency said the true number of sick people was likely higher because many people recover without medical care and are not tested, and because it can take three to four weeks to determine whether a recent illness is part of an outbreak. (cdc.gov) ### What evidence tied the illnesses to eggs? The CDC said 40 of 44 interviewed patients, or 91%, reported eating shell eggs in the week before they got sick. The agency said whole genome sequencing showed bacteria from sick people’s samples were closely related genetically, which suggested they got sick from the same food. (cdc.gov) FDA investigators said traceback data linked the outbreak, at least in part, to recalled shell eggs from Midwest Poultry Services. The CDC said the outbreak strain was Salmonella Enteritidis and that laboratory analysis predicted nonsusceptibility to ciprofloxacin and resistance to nalidixic acid. (cdc.gov) ### What should consumers and businesses do now? The CDC said consumers should not eat recalled shell eggs and should throw them away or return them. The FDA said people who stored eggs without original packaging and cannot tell whether they are recalled should discard them. Both agencies said surfaces and containers that touched the eggs should be washed and sanitized. (cdc.gov) The CDC said most people with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, while the FDA said illness usually begins 12 to 72 hours after contaminated food is eaten and symptoms usually last four to seven days. The agencies said children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems face higher risks of severe illness. (cdc.gov) July 24 remains the latest public update posted on the CDC outbreak page and the FDA outbreak investigation page. Consumers and retailers can use those pages to check affected brands, carton codes and the July 20 to Aug. 17, 2026 date range covered by the recall. (cdc.gov)