Egg recall upgraded to highest risk level after 26 people hospitalised

At least 26 people have been hospitalised after eating eggs in the United States, prompting health officials to upgrade a major product recall to Class I.

Medical facilities across the nation are currently contending with a myriad of fatal illnesses, including the continuing Cyclospora outbreak, which scientists have confirmed has already claimed the lives of two people.

Hundreds of cases of Salmonella Javiana caused by jalapeño peppers have been reported; Chipotle and supermarket chains, including Target and Trader Joe’s, have pulled popular products containing the ingredient from sale.

Meanwhile, various states are also dealing with foodborne illness linked to eggs from Midwest Poultry Services, which were initially recalled in late July.

At the time, the Indiana company announced that a whopping 1,589,577 cartons of eggs, including white eggs and brown cage-free eggs, had the ‘potential to be contaminated’ with the Salmonella enteritidis bacterium.

An egg recall has been upgraded to a Class I after more than 25 people were reportedly hospitalised (RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP via Getty Images)

The eggs were produced between 6 June and 3 July 2026. They bear sell-by or best-by dates between 20 July and 17 August and were sold in retail sizes of 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, and 60 eggs.

It’s understood that they were produced in Texas and were shipped across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

They were sold at various Kroger and Brookshire Grocery stores and ‘other smaller retail outlets’, as per the original recall alert.

Eggs included in the Class I recall:

• Kroger Large 12, 18 and 60 eggs
• Kroger Extra Large 12 eggs
• Kroger Medium 12 and 30 eggs
• Kroger Jumbo 12 eggs
• Simple Truth Cage Free Medium Brown 12 eggs
• Simple Truth Cage Free Large Brown 12, 18, 24 eggs
• Brookshire’s Large 6, 12, 18, 36, and 60 eggs
• Brookshire’s Extra Large 18 eggs
• Brookshire’s Jumbo 12 eggs
• Country Morning Large 12, 18, 2 ½ Dozen eggs
• Country Morning Extra Large 12 eggs
• County Morning Medium 12 eggs
• Country Morning Jumbo 12 eggs
• Sunups Medium 2 ½ Dozen eggs
• Grade AA Large and Medium Bulk X 30 DOZEN
• Grade A Large Bulk X 15 DOZEN
• Grade A Large Bulk - TICTAC
• Grade A Large Bulk - BROWN - TICTAX
• Grade A Medium Bulk X 15 DOZEN
• Grade A Extra Large Bulk X 15 DOZEN
• Grade A Jumbo Bulk 20 eggs TICTAC

A map showing were the potentially contaminated eggs were distributed (FDA)

On 12 August, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) upgraded the recall notice and assigned Class I status, the highest risk category available.

Class I indicates a ‘situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death’, as per the health authority.

The upgrade came after the FDA reported that 98 people had become infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella across 17 states, with at least 26 people being admitted to hospital, the recall notice said.

Midwest Poultry Services has apparently since identified the ‘issue on its two Texas farms through proactive environmental monitoring practices and root cause analysis, the FDA confirmed.

The agency added that the company is not distributing fresh eggs produced on its Texas farms at this time.

Consumers are being advised not to eat the eggs and return them to the point of sale (FDA)

Eggs included in the Class I recall can be identified by checking the identifying code number printed on the left or right sides of the carton in date-coding ink only.

Cartons with the codes P-1950 or 0840962 with a Julian Date between 157 and 184 printed on the side of the carton are included, as per People Magazine.

Anyone who believes they may have purchased a carton of eggs included in the recall is advised not to eat the eggs and return the product to its original place of purchase for a full refund.