The FDA upgraded an egg recall to Class I, its highest risk level, after a salmonella outbreak linked to nearly 1.6 million cartons of eggs from Midwest Poultry Services sickened 98 people across 17 states. The reclassification occurred on August 12, marking a significant escalation in the agency’s assessment of the contamination risk.
A Class I recall 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,” according to FDA guidance. The affected eggs were produced in Texas between June 6 and July 3, 2026, and bear sell-by or best-by dates between July 20 and August 17, 2026.
Midwest Poultry Services initially recalled the eggs on July 22 after identifying the potential salmonella enteritidis contamination at two Texas farms through routine environmental monitoring. The voluntary recall initially covered 1,589,577 dozen white shell eggs and brown cage-free shell eggs distributed to retailers including Kroger and Brookshire Grocery stores.
The salmonella outbreak has resulted in 26 hospitalizations, according to the CDC. Salmonella enteritidis typically causes diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps within 6 to 72 hours of exposure, though most healthy people recover within a few days to a week without treatment.
This recall represents a significant food safety event, though smaller than the 2010 Wright County Egg outbreak, which prompted a recall of 550 million eggs and sickened hundreds of people across the country. That outbreak, also caused by salmonella enteritidis, led to increased scrutiny of egg production facilities and stricter FDA oversight of the industry.
Consumers with recalled eggs are urged not to consume them and to return the product to the original place of purchase. The FDA continues to investigate the outbreak and monitor for additional cases linked to the contaminated eggs.
Sources
- CBS News — FDA Class I egg recall classification and health warning
- The Hill — FDA assigns highest-risk Class I status for recall details and timing
- USA Today — FDA issues highest-risk recall for nearly 1.6M dozen eggs
- Washington Post — Recall details and salmonella contamination information
- CDC — Salmonella outbreak investigation and case count
- PBS NewsHour — Nearly 100 people sickened in salmonella outbreak details
- Cleveland Clinic — Salmonella symptoms and health effects
- Reuters — Midwest Poultry Services recall information
- CNN — 2010 Wright County Egg recall precedent
