The Food and Drug Administration now lists more than 38 million eggs in the Midwest Poultry Services recall and has classified the action as Class I, the agency’s highest risk level, according to its enforcement record.
The updated total is roughly double the 19,074,924 eggs described in the company’s original recall announcement on Wednesday, July 22.
A Class I designation means exposure to the recalled product carries a reasonable probability of causing serious health consequences or death.
The white shell eggs and brown cage-free shell eggs may be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis.
Federal investigators have linked the outbreak strain to 98 illnesses across 17 states, including as far east as New York. At least 26 people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. Texas accounts for 73 of the reported illnesses.
Midwest Poultry Services produced and distributed the eggs from two Texas farms between Saturday, June 6, and Friday, July 3.
They were shipped to retail and foodservice locations in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico, and Mississippi. Sellers included Kroger and Brookshire Grocery stores, along with smaller retailers.
Affected brands include Kroger, Simple Truth Cage Free, Brookshire’s, Country Morning, and Cal-Maine Sunups.
The recall covers white and brown eggs packaged in bulk containers and cartons holding six, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, or 60 eggs.
Recalled cartons carry plant code P-1950 or 0840962 and a Julian date between 157 and 184. Sell-by or best-by dates range from Monday, July 20, through Monday, Aug. 17.
Consumers should not eat the eggs. They should discard them or return them to the original place of purchase for a full refund.
Refrigerator drawers, containers, utensils, and other surfaces that touched the eggs or packaging should be washed with hot, soapy water.
Salmonella can cause diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems face a greater risk of severe illness.
Anyone experiencing bloody diarrhea, a fever above 102 degrees, repeated vomiting, or signs of dehydration should contact a health care provider.
Midwest Poultry Services has stopped distributing fresh eggs from the affected Texas farms while the federal investigation continues.
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