The FDA upgraded an egg recall to its highest risk level on Wednesday, warning that exposure to the recalled eggs could pose serious health consequences or death. The agency classified the Midwest Poultry Services recall as Class I, the most severe designation in the federal recall system, following a salmonella outbreak that has sickened 98 people across 17 states and hospitalized 26.
Midwest Poultry Services initially issued the recall on July 22, 2026, for approximately 1.6 million dozen white shell eggs and brown cage-free eggs produced in Texas between June 6 and July 3, 2026. The eggs were distributed to Kroger locations in Texas and Louisiana, Brookshire Grocery stores across six states, and foodservice customers in three states, with sell-by or best-by dates between July 20 and August 17, 2026.
The FDA’s Class I designation indicates “a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.” The upgrade came after epidemiological investigation linked the recalled eggs to a multistate salmonella outbreak that began in November 2025. According to the CDC, 40 of 44 ill persons with information available reported eating eggs, establishing a clear connection between the product and illness.
Consumers can identify affected eggs by the production codes P-1950 or 0840962 with a Julian date between 157 and 184 printed in date-coding ink on the side of the carton. The CDC recommends discarding or returning any recalled eggs and washing surfaces that may have contacted them with hot soapy water or a dishwasher.
Salmonella symptoms include diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, typically appearing six hours to six days after infection. Most people recover without treatment within four to seven days, but children under 5, adults over 65, and those with weakened immune systems face higher risk of severe illness requiring hospitalization.
The egg recall is one of several ongoing foodborne illness outbreaks affecting U.S. consumers. A salmonella outbreak tied to jalapeños has sickened nearly 350 people, and a cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms has spread to at least 47 states, causing severe gastrointestinal illness.
According to the CDC, salmonella causes approximately 1.35 million infections in the United States annually, with contaminated food as the primary source. Midwest Poultry Services stated it initiated the recall as a precautionary measure and began diverting affected eggs to a breaking plant where they would be pasteurized to kill foodborne pathogens.
Sources
- New York Post — FDA Class I classification and upgrade details; outbreak case count and hospitalizations
- ABC News — Initial recall announcement, product details, distribution locations, and salmonella information
- CDC — Outbreak investigation findings and salmonella epidemiology
- FDA — Class I recall definition and recall classifications
