A salmonella outbreak linked to eggs has led to a recall of nearly 2 million cartons across the country. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that 79 people have been sickened in the outbreak.
Of those who became ill after consuming the eggs, 21 required hospitalization. No deaths have been reported.
The August Egg Company, based in Hilmar, California, voluntarily recalled 1.7 million cartons of brown cage-free and brown certified organic eggs on Friday. The eggs were distributed between February 3 and May 15 in several states, including Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Washington, and Wyoming.
The recalled eggs have sell-by dates ranging from March 4 to June 19. They were sold at various stores, including Walmart, Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raleys, Food 4 Less, and Ralphs.
Salmonella poisoning can cause diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, and fever. Symptoms can appear from hours to a week after eating contaminated food. Young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of severe illness or even death.
The CDC advises consumers to throw away any recalled eggs or return them to the place of purchase. Any surfaces that may have come into contact with the eggs should be thoroughly washed.
According to the FDA, August Egg Company has taken action by redirecting eggs to a breaking facility for pasteurization in order to eliminate bacteria. The company’s food safety team is also reviewing their practices to prevent future outbreaks.
Related topics:
