Millions of eggs recalled for Salmonella

Midwest Poultry Services, L.P. recalled 1,589,577 dozen shell eggs on July 22 after federal officials linked its products to possible Salmonella Enteritidis contamination. The eggs were produced in Texas and sold under brands including Kroger, Simple Truth, Brookshire’s, Cal-Maine Sunups and Country Morning, according to the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Federal investigators said the outbreak had sickened 98 people across 17 states and hospitalized 26 as of July 24. No deaths had been reported. ### Which eggs are actually covered by the recall? The recalled products are white shell eggs and brown cage-free shell eggs sold in cartons and bulk packs of 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36 and 60 eggs, the FDA and CDC said. The affected cartons carry sell-by or best-by dates between July 20, 2026, and August 17, 2026. (fda.gov) The identifying carton codes are P-1950 or 0840962, with Julian dates between 157 and 184 printed on the side of the carton, according to the FDA. Federal notices say those details — not just the brand name — are what determine whether a carton is part of the recall. ### Where were the eggs sold? (fda.gov) Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana were the states that received shipments directly from the producer, according to the FDA recall notice. The eggs were then made available to consumers 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. (fda.gov) NBC News reported the recalled cartons were sold under several familiar grocery labels, including Kroger and Simple Truth, which is why the recall has reached beyond one house brand or one chain. The CDC’s outbreak page also lists Brookshire’s, Cal-Maine and Country Morning among the recalled labels. ### How serious is the outbreak? The CDC said 98 people in 17 states had been identified with the outbreak strain as of July 24, and 26 had been hospitalized. (fda.gov) Illnesses began between November 21, 2025, and June 30, 2026, according to the agency’s investigation update. Salmonella infections usually begin 12 to 72 hours after contaminated food is eaten and often last four to seven days, the FDA said. (nbcnews.com) Symptoms include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps, and children younger than 5, older adults and people with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of severe infection. ### What should people do if these eggs are in the fridge? (cdc.gov) The FDA and CDC said consumers should not eat the recalled eggs and should throw them away or return them to the place of purchase for a refund. If eggs were removed from their original carton and the packaging details cannot be checked, federal officials said they should be discarded. (fda.gov) Federal guidance also tells consumers, retailers and restaurants to clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that touched the eggs, including counters, refrigerator shelves and utensils. Hands, utensils and surfaces should be washed with hot, soapy water before and after handling raw eggs or foods containing raw eggs, the FDA said. ### Why are FDA and CDC both involved? (fda.gov) The FDA is handling the recall and outbreak investigation pages because shell eggs fall under its food-safety oversight, and the CDC is tracking illnesses linked to the outbreak. The CDC said epidemiologic, laboratory and traceback data indicate shell eggs produced and distributed by Midwest Poultry Services may be making people sick. (fda.gov) The July 24 CDC update remained the latest federal illness count available on Thursday, August 6, 2026. Consumers can verify carton codes, date ranges and brand lists on the FDA recall notice and the CDC outbreak page before deciding whether to discard or return eggs. (cdc.gov)