Why the FDA Raised the Egg Recall to Class I

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has raised a salmonella-related egg recall to Class I, the agency's most serious classification, signaling that exposure to the affected product could cause severe illness or death. The recall, first initiated by Midwest Poultry Services on July 22, covers nearly 1.6 million dozen eggs produced at Texas farms between June 6 and July 3.

The eggs were distributed to Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas and carry sell-by or best-by dates from July 20, 2026, through Aug. 17, 2026. They were sold under the Country Morning, Cal-Maine Sunups, Brookshire's, Simple Truth and Kroger brand names. Consumers can identify potentially contaminated cartons by the codes P-1950 or 0840962 and a Julian date between 157 and 184.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has linked the eggs to at least 98 salmonella infections across 17 states. Twenty-six people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. Symptoms of salmonella infection include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, typically beginning 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food and lasting four to seven days.

FDA testing found salmonella in samples from the farms, and genetic sequencing matched some samples to the outbreak strain. However, the agency has said Midwest Poultry Services does not account for all illnesses in the outbreak, meaning investigators have not identified every potential source.

What the Recall Codes and the Wider Outbreak Show

What a Class I recall signals

The upgrade from the initial recall classification to Class I is a formal risk statement, not a change in the recalled lots themselves. It tells consumers and retailers that the eggs still in circulation should be treated as capable of causing serious adverse health consequences or death, particularly because the pack dates extend to mid-July and best-by dates as late as Aug. 17 may still be in homes.

The product codes and six-state distribution area provide a practical way to distinguish affected eggs from unaffected eggs. But the FDA's statement that Midwest Poultry Services does not account for all the illnesses is a notable caveat: it means the current recall may not fully explain the multistate case count, and additional sources may be identified as the investigation continues.

Why the broader Salmonella picture matters

The egg outbreak is unfolding alongside a separate Salmonella outbreak tied to jalapeños, with 345 reported illnesses and 36 hospitalizations across 27 states. Several people who became ill said they ate at Chipotle or Qdoba, but both chains have stopped selling the implicated jalapeño products. The CDC and FDA have said they do not consider there to be a current ongoing risk from those establishments because the products were removed.

That second outbreak led Taylor Farms to issue a recall on Aug. 9 for products sent to retailers including Kroger, Target and Whole Foods. Public health officials are also tracking live-animal outbreaks, including a backyard poultry outbreak linked to 814 cases across 44 states as of July 27. The concurrent investigations reinforce that Salmonella exposure can come through food and animal contact, not only through a single recalled product.

Checking Your Eggs and Limiting Salmonella Risk

If you have eggs bought in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma or Texas, check the carton before using them.

  • Look for the plant code P-1950 or 0840962 and a Julian date between 157 and 184. If the carton matches, throw the eggs away or return them to the store for a refund.
  • Do not rely only on the brand name. Affected eggs were sold under Country Morning, Cal-Maine Sunups, Brookshire's, Simple Truth and Kroger labels.
  • If you have handled the eggs, wash your hands, utensils and surfaces with hot, soapy water before and after handling raw eggs or egg-containing foods.
  • Watch for fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain if you may have eaten a recalled product. Symptoms usually appear within 12 to 72 hours. Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems should seek prompt medical care if symptoms develop.
  • Do not try to verify safety by appearance or cooking; FDA guidance for the recalled lots is to discard or return them.