A nationwide Salmonella outbreak tied to eggs from a California distributor has sickened at least 79 people in seven states and led to several hospitalizations, federal health officials announced.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are investigating the outbreak, which has led to 21 hospitalizations as of June 6. No deaths have been reported.
The eggs — brown cage-free and brown certified organic — were distributed by the August Egg Company of Hilmar, California, and sold to retailers and restaurants in nine states between February 3 and May 15, according to a press release.
In addition to California, other states with cases include Nevada, Washington, Arizona, Nebraska, New Mexico, Illinois, Indiana and Wyoming.
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The company has recalled 1.7 million eggs, which were sold under various brands at major retailers including Walmart, Safeway, Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Raley’s, Food 4 Less and Ralphs. The recalled eggs have sell-by dates ranging from March 4 to June 19 and are marked with plant code P-6562 or CA-5330 and Julian dates between 032 and 126.
“This outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses, and the true number of sick people is likely much higher than the number reported,” the CDC said in a statement. “This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella.”
The CDC advises consumers and businesses to check packaging for the affected plant codes and dates. Any recalled eggs should be thrown out or returned to the place of purchase. Surfaces and items that may have come into contact with the eggs should be thoroughly washed and sanitized.
Businesses are also being urged not to sell or serve the recalled products.
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After learning of the contamination, August Egg Company said it began sending its eggs to a pasteurization facility, known as an egg-breaking plant, to kill any pathogens. The company said it is also conducting a review of its safety protocols.
“August Egg Company’s internal food safety team also is conducting its own stringent review to identify what measures can be established to prevent this situation from recurring,” the company said in a statement. “We are committed to addressing this matter fully and to implementing all necessary corrective actions to ensure this does not happen again.”
Salmonella is a type of bacteria that causes an estimated 1.35 million infections in the U.S. annually, according to the CDC. It is one of the leading causes of foodborne illness and can be especially dangerous for young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
Symptoms typically begin six hours to six days after infection and include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. In some cases, the illness may be severe enough to require hospitalization.
This is not the only Salmonella outbreak currently under investigation in the U.S.
Last month, the FDA announced a recall of cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, linked to an outbreak that has sickened 45 people and hospitalized 16 across 18 states.
If you believe you’ve become ill after consuming the recalled eggs, the CDC recommends contacting your healthcare provider.
For more information and a full list of recalled egg brands, visit the CDC’s outbreak page.
