Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Outbreaks & Recalls,Salmonella on June 7, 2025
Shell eggs are responsible for Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak that has sickened at least 79 people, says U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The source?
A large shell egg processor.
A detail that complicates this matter further is the fact that this egg processor also private labels these cage free and organic eggs. In addition to being unbranded, these affected eggs also bear a number of different store and name brands.
As a result, nearly two million dozen eggs are subject to this recall.
What does “shell egg” mean? How was the problem discovered? What do we know about the outbreak investigation? What eggs should we be concerned about. How bad is a Salmonella infection?
This and more as we explore the Salmonella outbreak linked to shell eggs from August Egg Company!
The Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak and corresponding recall involve shell eggs. But what exactly does that mean?
Shell eggs are whole eggs. They still contain their shell. It is what most of us think about when we hear the term, “egg.”
Shell eggs are different from other egg products, like those sold in liquid form or separated by whites and yolks.
These products are regulated by both the FDA and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
After a cluster of illnesses were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and FDA, an outbreak investigation was launched.
During the course of the investigation, sick patients were interviewed. As with all traceback investigations, interview questions included what the person consumed in the weeks prior to becoming sick. This helps make connections and often points investigators in the direction of a source, where they can perform more laboratory testing to track down a food source.
In this case, 30 people involved in the outbreak were available for interview so far. Nearly all (27) “reported exposure to eggs or an egg containing dish before becoming ill.”
FDA traceback looked for the specific brands and locations that customers shopped and ate.
August Egg Company was found to be the common supplier.
Once a common source was found, the FDA conducted an onsite inspection and collected samples at the processing facility.
These samples were analyzed through a process called Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and compared to outbreak patient sample data.
Samples from August Egg Company’s processing facility were genetically similar to sick patient samples.
In response, the company issued a recall and diverted current eggs to an egg-breaking plant that pasteurized eggs, killing potential foodborne pathogens.
As of June 5, 2025, there have been at least 79 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis. There have been 21 hospitalizations, and no deaths have been reported.
People report feeling sick between February 24, 2025 to May 17, 2025. It can take as many as three weeks for a sick patient’s sample to be linked to an ongoing outbreak. So, it is possible additional cases may be added to the outbreak statistics.
This multi-state outbreak spans seven states, including Arizona, California, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, Nevada, and Washington.
August Egg Company, a Hilmar, California-based egg processor, issued a recall for 1.7 million dozen brown cage free and brown certified organic eggs due to the potential health risk, Salmonella.
Recalled eggs were distributed to Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raleys, Food 4 Less, Ralphs, and Walmart stores.
Affected eggs have a printed plant code number on the carton or package. The plant Code P-6562 or CA5330 with Julian Dates between 32 to 126 are indicated in this recall.
Eggs purchased at Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raleys, Food 4 Less, and Ralphs in the states of California and Nevada were distributed from February 3, 2025 through May 15, 2025. These shell egg products have a sell by date of March 4, 2025 to June 4, 2025.
Eggs purchased at Walmart locations in the states of Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Washington, and Wyoming were distributed from February 3, 2025 through May 6, 2025. These shell egg products have a sell by date of March 4, 2025 to June 19, 2025.
These products are sold under several different brand names.
Large Brown 12 eggs with UPC 070852010427
Cage Free Large Brown Loose, 1 case = 150 eggs with UPC 041512039638
Medium Brown Cage Free 12 eggs with UPC 071230021042
Jumbo Brown Cage Free eggs with UPC 071230021011
Cage Free large Brown 6 eggs with UPC 079893401522
Large Brown 12 eggs with UPC 079893401508
Large Brown 18 eggs with UPC 079893401546
Organic Large Cage Free Brown 12 eggs with UPC 681131122771
Organic Large Cage Free Brown 18 eggs with UPC 681131122801
Large Cage Free Brown 12 eggs with UPC 681131122764
Large Cage Free Brown 1 eggs with UPC 681131122795
Large Cage Free Brown 12 eggs with UPC 046567033310
Large Cage Free Brown 18 eggs with UPC 046567040325
Organic large Cage Free Brown 12 eggs with UPC 046567028798
Organic large Cage Free Brown 18 eggs with UPC 046567040295
Medium Brown Cage Free 18 eggs with UPC 011110099327
Large Brown Cage Free 18 eggs with UPC 011110873743
Organic Cage Free Large Brown 12 eggs with UPC 041512131950
Organic Cage Free Large Brown 18 eggs with UPC 041512145162
Large Brown Cage Free 12 eggs with UPC 717544211747
Large Brown Cage Free 18 eggs with UPC 717544211754
Organic Cage Free Large Brown 12 eggs with UPC 717544201441
Organic Cage Free Large Brown 18 eggs with UPC 717544211761
Loose Small Brown Cage Free 1 box = 6 flats (1 flat = 30 eggs)
Loose Medium Brown Cage Free 1 box = 6 flats (1 flat = 30 eggs)
Loose Medium Brown Organic 1 box = 6 flats (1 flat = 30 eggs)
Loose Large Brown Organic 1 box = 6 flats (1 flat = 30 eggs)
Loose Jumbo Brown Cage Free 1 box = 5 flats (1 flat = 20 eggs)
Loose Jumbo Brown Organic 1 box = 5 flats (1 flat = 20 eggs)
Salmonella bacteria are responsible for the intestinal illness, salmonellosis.
Common Salmonella infection symptoms include:
Severity and length of illness often varies from person to person. Most people experience mild illness that passes quickly. Others may experience severe illness lasting weeks or even months after initial symptoms.
Most people experience symptoms in as little as six hours and up to six days after exposure. In some cases, illness onset could be much longer. In general, those with salmonellosis usually feel better within a week (four to seven days).
Certain groups of people are more likely to become sick if exposed, and experience more severe symptoms if infected.
Those more vulnerable to Salmonella infection include:
Those more likely to experience sever symptoms include:
While most people do not need medical intervention and are not prescribed antibiotic treatment, those in the higher risk group are more likely to receive treatment.
In some cases, complications may arise from infection.
Most of the time Salmonella bacteria are limited to the intestinal tract. However, in some cases, the bacteria leave the intestines and enter the bloodstream. When this happens, bacteria may infect the urinary tract, blood, bones, joints, and even the nervous system.
The resulting Salmonella complications may include reactive arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and bacteremia that can affect other parts of the body.
If you may have been exposed to Salmonella from shell eggs, there are a few things that you can do to help your situation.
If you begin having symptoms consistent with a Salmonella infection, seek medical attention right away. If you are not sick enough to need medical care, it is still a good idea to report your illness to your local health department.
This outbreak investigation involving Salmonella from shell eggs is ongoing. Outbreak investigators can use your information to either narrow or broaden the food involved in this outbreak.
Your experiences can help!
If you have become seriously ill due to Salmonella in shell eggs, it is a good idea to get advice from an experienced Salmonella Lawyer. A Salmonella lawyer can help answer questions you may have and even some that you have not thought about. They can help you get the resources you need to recover and help hold accountable those responsible for your illness.
If you have been impacted by this outbreak of Salmonella from shell eggs and wish to make a legal claim, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has a Salmonella lawyer that can help.
The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has successfully represented cases just like yours and won millions of dollars in food poisoning and products liabilities lawsuits.
Reach out by calling (833) 330-3663 or send us an email for a free, no obligation consultation.
Don’t wait. Call today to get the justice you deserve!
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)