FDA Elevates Massive Egg Recall to Highest-Risk Salmonella Warning

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration elevated the recall of nearly 1.6 million cartons of eggs produced by Midwest Poultry Services in Texas to its highest-risk Class I level in mid-August 2026. Officials said the reclassification followed an analysis of a multistate Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak linked to white and brown cage-free shell eggs produced between June 6 and July 3.

The recall involves approximately 1.6 million cartons, or nearly 19 million individual eggs, produced and distributed by Midwest Poultry Services, L.P., a company based in North Manchester, Indiana, with affected farms located in Texas, according to FDA records. The eggs subject to the recall were produced between June 6 and July 3, 2026, and include both white and brown cage-free shell eggs. The cartons bear sell-by or best-by dates ranging from July 20 through August 17, 2026, and specific plant and lot identifiers—codes P-1950 or 0840962 with Julian dates 157 through 184—printed on the side of the packaging, officials said.

Federal and state health agencies have linked the recalled eggs to 98 laboratory-confirmed cases of Salmonella Enteritidis infection across 17 states, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA.

Among those infected, 26 people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported to date, media summaries of agency data show. Epidemiological investigations and laboratory testing have traced the outbreak to the implicated egg lots, with FDA officials stating that the recalled shell eggs are a likely source of the illnesses.

The FDA elevated the recall to its highest-risk Class I designation in mid-August 2026, following a thorough risk assessment of the outbreak data. FDA defines a Class I recall as one where there is a reasonable probability that use of or exposure to the product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death. The agency issued an enforcement report and safety alert formalizing the reclassification around August 14, 2026, emphasizing that the upgrade reflects a risk determination and does not necessarily expand the scope of Midwest Poultry Services’ original voluntary recall.

Midwest Poultry Services initiated the voluntary recall in July 2026 after identifying potential contamination with Salmonella Enteritidis in its Texas-produced eggs. The recall affects distribution primarily across parts of the U.S. South and Southwest, as well as other regions served by the company’s supply chain, FDA and CDC sources confirmed. Retailers and distributors in the impacted areas have been instructed not to sell or serve the recalled eggs and to follow FDA guidance on proper handling and disposal.

The ongoing investigation is a joint effort between the FDA, CDC, and state and local health departments. It relies on epidemiological interviews with affected individuals, laboratory testing of clinical and food samples, and supply-chain traceback from retail points back to the farms, according to FDA’s outbreak investigation documentation. While the agency has identified Midwest Poultry Services’ shell eggs as a likely source, officials noted that the investigation remains open and could expand if additional sources are implicated.

Public health authorities have issued consumer guidance advising against consumption of any eggs falling within the recalled brand, code, and date ranges. Consumers are urged to check the sell-by or best-by dates and the plant and Julian codes printed on egg cartons. Salmonella infection symptoms typically include fever, diarrhea—which may be bloody—nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Health officials warn that infection can be serious or fatal, particularly for young children, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Although thorough cooking and proper food handling can reduce risk, FDA and CDC stress that recalled eggs should not be consumed even if cooked.

This recall follows a pattern of recurring salmonella-related egg investigations and recalls overseen by the FDA in recent years, including cases involving August Egg Company and Country Eggs in 2025. The agency’s approach in this instance—conducting a multistate outbreak investigation, maintaining a public outbreak dashboard, and escalating the recall to Class I—aligns with standard federal protocols for managing high-risk foodborne illness outbreaks involving widely distributed products. The FDA continues to monitor the situation and will update guidance as the investigation progresses.