Health officials have announced a major egg recall involving nearly 1.6 million dozen eggs after concerns arose about possible Salmonella contamination. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Midwest Poultry Services voluntarily recalled the products after identifying a potential food safety issue at one of its Texas facilities.
According to Reuters, the recall includes white and brown cage-free eggs that reached grocery stores across several states. Although health officials have not linked any illnesses to the affected products, both the company and retailers moved quickly to remove them from store shelves as a precaution.
Which eggs are affected by the recall?
According to the FDA, the egg recall covers eggs produced at Midwest Poultry Services’ Texas farms. Kroger sold the affected eggs in Texas and Louisiana, while Brookshire Grocery distributed them in parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Mississippi.
After receiving the notice, Brookshire Grocery immediately reviewed its inventory and removed the affected products from its stores. The retailer also assured customers that its current egg supply comes from a different production facility and does not include any of the recalled batches. At the same time, Midwest Poultry Services halted shipments from the affected farms while it investigated the source of the potential contamination.
What consumers should know
The FDA says it has not received any reports of illnesses connected to the recalled eggs. However, Salmonella can cause foodborne illness that brings symptoms such as stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, and headaches within 12 to 72 hours after someone eats contaminated food.
To reduce any potential risk, Midwest Poultry Services redirected eggs from the affected farms to a processing facility for pasteurization, which destroys harmful bacteria. The company also launched an internal investigation and expanded testing to identify the source of the possible contamination. Consumers who purchased products included in the egg recall should compare their eggs with the FDA’s recall information. If the products match the affected batches, consumers should avoid eating them and follow the retailer’s instructions for returning or safely disposing of the eggs.