Egg Recall: Organic and Cage-Free Eggs Linked to Salmonella Outbreak

Affected products sold in at least nine states through Walmart, Safeway, Raley's among others

AARP

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Published June 09, 2025

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This article was created with the assistance of generative AI. It was reviewed by editors before publication.

A salmonella outbreak tied to brown cage-free and certified organic eggs has sickened at least 79 people across seven states, prompting the recall of more than 20 million eggs supplied by August Egg Company in Hilmar, California.

The eggs were sold at major retailers including Walmart, Safeway, and Raley’s, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

At least 79 cases of Salmonella have been reported to the CDC as of June 5, including 21 hospitalizations. No deaths have been reported, but public health officials caution that the actual number of sick people could be significantly higher, and the outbreak may extend beyond states with known cases.

California has reported the highest number of cases, with 63 individuals affected. Other states with reported cases include Arizona, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, Nevada and Washington.Officials continue to interview those infected to learn more about what they ate before falling ill. So far, 90 percent of those interviewed reported eating eggs. Investigators have also linked the outbreak to two restaurants where the eggs were served, causing small clusters of infections.

In a statement, the August Egg Company said it took immediate action after identifying the concern by diverting all eggs to an egg-breaking facility where the product was pasteurized to kill any pathogens.

Which eggs were recalled?

The recalled eggs were distributed between February 3 and May 15 in California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, Indiana, and Illinois. The affected egg cartons or packages have Julian dates ranging from 32 to 126 and plant code numbers P-6562 or CA-5330. They include:

What should consumers do?

Do not eat or serve any eggs from August Egg Company.
Check the egg carton or package for the plant code and Julian date.
If you find any of the recalled eggs, return them to the store for a full refund or discard them.
Wash and sanitize any surfaces or containers the recalled eggs may have touched.
Contact a health care provider if you have symptoms of salmonella

Salmonella infection symptoms

About 1.35 million people are sickened by the Salmonella bacteria each year, according to the CDC. Children younger than 5, adults 65 and older and people with weakened immune systems may have more serious illnesses that require medical treatment.

Common symptoms of infection include diarrhea, fever and stomach pains. In severe cases, an infection could result in a high fever, vomiting, bloody diarrhea and dehydration. Most people infected will exhibit symptoms six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria. Typically, people recover in four to seven days without needing treatment, but it can be fatal.

Most people can recover without antibiotics, but treatment is recommended for anyone with severe illness. Infected adults over age 65 (or over 50 if an underlying condition such as heart disease is present), infants, and those with a weakened immune system are advised to take an antibiotic.

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