Salmonella outbreak: Recalled eggs sold at Walmart, Safeway, and elsewhere sicken people in 7 states

A significant recall of 1.7 million dozen eggs is underway. The eggs were believed to be the source of a salmonella outbreak that has sickened dozens of people across seven states and so far led to 21 people being hospitalized. They were distributed to several major retailers, including Walmart and Safeway. Here’s what you need to know about the recall and outbreak.

Shell eggs recalled due to salmonella fears

On June 6, the August Egg Company of Hilmar, California, issued a voluntary recall of 1.7 million dozen eggs produced at its facilities. The company initiated the recall after it discovered that the eggs are feared to have been contaminated with salmonella, a potentially deadly bacterium.

On the same day, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published August Egg Company’s recall notice on its website, while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced an investigation into a multistate outbreak of salmonella linked to eggs.

Dozens sickened and hospitalized across 7 states

The CDC’s investigation has found that eggs produced by August Egg Company are linked to dozens of cases of people becoming ill after consuming them.

The agency’s latest data shows that there are so far 79 cases linked to the August Egg Company’s recalled products. Of those cases, 21 have resulted in hospitalizations. Thankfully, no deaths have been reported so far.

The cases are spread across seven states: Arizona, California, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, Nevada, and Washington.

Of those states, California has the most number of cases, at 63, followed by Washington and Nevada, with four cases each. Arizona has had three cases, Nebraska and New Jersey two cases, and Kentucky has one.

However, many people who become sick with salmonella see their symptoms resolve without contacting a health professional, so the actual number of cases could be higher.

When and where were the eggs distributed?

According to the notice posted on the FDA’s website, the recalled eggs were distributed between February and May. The retail locations that received the eggs include:

• Walmart
• Save Mart
• FoodMaxx
• Lucky
• Smart & Final
• Safeway
• Raley’s
• Food 4 Less
• Ralphs

The eggs were distributed between February 3 and May 15, to Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raley’s, Food 4 Less, and Ralphs locations in California and Nevada. Those eggs had sell-by dates ranging from March 4 to June 4.

The eggs were also distributed between February 3 through May 6, to Walmart stores in California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, Indiana, and Illinois. Those eggs had sell-by dates ranging from March 4 to June 19.

What eggs are included in the recall?

Over two dozen egg products packaged under multiple brands are included in the recall. The recall notice states that the eggs were packaged in fiber or plastic cartons and have a plant code number P-6562 or CA5330 with the Julian Dates between 32 and 126.

Photographs of the cartons can be found here.

The item names of the egg products included in the recall, along with their plant number and carton UPC are:

What is salmonella?

Salmonella is a potentially deadly bacteria that is usually contracted after eating contaminated foods.

The CDC says that typical symptoms of a salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, which typically present between six hours and six days after exposure to the bacteria.

Typical salmonella infections last between four and seven days, and most people recover without treatment. However, salmonella infections can also cause severe illness in individuals, especially those who are younger than 5 years old, older than 65 years old, or have weakened immune systems.

What should I do if I have the recalled eggs?

According to the CDC, if you have the recalled eggs in your possession, you should not consume them.

Instead, you should throw the eggs out or return them to their place of purchase for a refund. You should also sanitize all surfaces that may have come into contact with the eggs.

Consumers who think they may have the recalled eggs in their possession are urged to read the full recall and investigation notices.