(NEXSTAR) -- Millions of eggs sold at Walmart stores and other grocers across nine states have been recalled amid a salmonella outbreak that has sickened dozens.
August Egg Company of Hilmar, California, has recalled 1.7 cartons of brown cage free and brown certified organic eggs due to potential salmonella contamination, the Food and Drug Administration announced Friday.
The FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and local health officials have linked the eggs, sold under multiple brand names, to a salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 79 people across seven states. Of those, 21 required hospitalization, the CDC reports.
What eggs have been recalled?
The eggs were distributed to retailers in Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Washington, and Wyoming between early February and early to mid-May of this year.
Impacted eggs sold at Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raleys, Food 4 Less and Ralphs locations have sell by dates between March 4, 2025, to June 4, 2025, within California and Nevada, according to the FDA. Eggs distributed to Walmart locations in all nine states have sell by dates from March 4, 2025, to June 19, 2025.
The FDA notice notes all recalled eggs will have a plant code of P-6562 or CA5330 with the Julian Dates between 32 to 126 printed on the carton or package, which will be either fiber or plastic.
You can see the full list of recalled eggs below:
If you have any of these eggs, you are advised to return them to the store for a full refund or throw them away.
"It is important to know that when our processing plant identified this concern, we immediately began diverting all eggs from the plant to an egg-breaking facility, which pasteurizes the eggs and kills any pathogens," August Egg Company said in a statement. "August Egg Company's internal food safety team also is conducting its own stringent review to identify what measures can be established to prevent this situation from recurring. We are committed to addressing this matter fully and to implementing all necessary corrective actions to ensure this does not happen again."
Salmonella outbreak sickens dozens
Nearly 80 confirmed cases of salmonella have been linked to the recalled eggs, the CDC reports, though the true number of those impacted may be larger. Some who become sick after a salmonella infection do not require medical treatment, which means they may never be tested and their case may never be reported.
Illnesses were reported between late February and mid-May, with patients ranging in age from 1 year old to 90. Thirty people were interviewed; 27 reported eating eggs before becoming sick.
Most of the cases—totaling 63 as of Sunday—were reported in California. Nevada and Washington have each confirmed four cases linked to the recalled eggs; Arizona has reported three cases. Nebraska and New Jersey have each recorded two while one case was reported in Kentucky.
What is salmonella?
It's caused by the salmonella bacteria, which the CDC estimates cause 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the U.S. yearly.
Salmonella infections are commonly associated with diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, according to the CDC. Symptoms can begin between six hours and six days after you've ingested the bacteria. Most people are able to recover without receiving treatment within four to seven days.
Illnesses may be more severe for young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. Some may require medical treatment or hospitalization, the CDC explains. Infections can only be diagnosed with a laboratory test of a person's stool, body tissue, or fluids.
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