🔥 Trending Salmonella Outbreak: Egg Recall and Illnesses Update

As of late July 2026, a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections has been linked to shell eggs, leading to significant recalls and public health warnings across the United States ¹⁹.

Current Status of the Outbreak

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and state public health officials are actively investigating the outbreak ¹⁹. Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback data indicate that shell eggs are the source of the infections ¹.

Key details of the outbreak include:

• Affected States: The outbreak has spanned at least 17 states, with some reports indicating eggs were sold in at least six states ⁴⁶⁵. Specific retailers like Kroger and Brookshire Grocery stores have been identified for selling the recalled eggs ¹⁰.
• Illnesses: As of July 25, 2026, nearly 100 people (98 individuals) have been sickened across the 17 states ⁶.
• Recalls: Several large-scale egg recalls have been initiated due to the Salmonella risk:
• An initial recall involved approximately 1.6 million cartons of eggs ⁵⁷. These eggs were produced in Texas and sold under various brand names ⁵.
• Another report indicated over 19 million eggs were recalled in five states ⁸.
• Midwest Poultry Services L.P. has been identified as a producer of implicated eggs ⁴.

What is Salmonella?

Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause salmonellosis, a common foodborne illness ³. Symptoms typically include fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare cases, Salmonella infection can cause more severe illnesses, leading to arterial infections, endocarditis (inflammation of the heart lining), and arthritis ⁷. Young children, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk for severe illness ⁷.

What to Do if You Have Recalled Eggs

Public health officials are advising consumers and businesses to take immediate action regarding recalled eggs:

• Check Your Eggs: Consumers should check their refrigerators for any recalled eggs ⁸.
• Dispose or Return: If you have recalled shell eggs, you should throw them out or return them to the place of purchase ⁹.
• Clean Surfaces: Thoroughly wash and sanitize any surfaces that may have come into contact with the recalled eggs ⁷.

Preventing Salmonella Infection

To reduce the risk of Salmonella infection from eggs, even those not part of a recall, the CDC recommends the following food safety practices:

• Cook Eggs Thoroughly: Cook eggs until both the yolk and white are firm ⁷. Dishes containing eggs should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) ⁷.
• Avoid Raw or Undercooked Eggs: Do not consume raw or undercooked eggs. This includes homemade Caesar dressing, hollandaise sauce, and raw cookie dough that contain raw eggs ⁷.
• Refrigerate Eggs Promptly: Store eggs in the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below ⁷.
• Wash Hands: Always wash your hands with soap and water after handling raw eggs ⁷.
• Prevent Cross-Contamination: Keep raw eggs separate from other foods, and use different cutting boards and utensils for raw eggs and other ingredients ⁷.