A massive egg recall covering roughly 38 million eggs has been elevated to the FDA’s highest risk category after federal health officials warned the products may be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis.
Midwest Poultry Services initially recalled nearly 1.6 million dozen brown eggs and another nearly 1.6 million dozen white eggs last month over concerns that they could carry the potentially dangerous bacteria.
On Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration classified the recall as Class I, its most serious designation.
The agency defines that category as ‘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.’
The affected Grade A shell eggs were produced in Texas and distributed across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
Consumers may have purchased the products at Kroger locations in Texas and Louisiana, Brookshire Grocery stores across several Southern states and other smaller retailers.
The eggs were produced between June 6 and July 3, 2026, with sell-by or best-by dates ranging from July 20 through Aug. 17.
Each recalled carton carries an identifying code printed on the side, with the FDA publishing a complete list of affected products on its website.
The warning comes as health officials continue tracking illnesses linked to the outbreak.
As of the CDC’s July 24 update, 98 people across 17 states had been infected with salmonella and 26 had been hospitalized.
🚨 CHECK YOUR EGGS: The FDA has classified a massive egg recall at its highest risk level over possible Salmonella contamination.
The current Midwest Poultry Services recall covers nearly 1.6 million dozen eggs — more than 19 million eggs — sold under brands including Kroger,…
— MDBayNews (@MDBayNews) August 13, 2026
Officials cautioned that the actual number of illnesses may be higher because many people recover without seeking medical care or undergoing testing.
It can also take weeks before investigators are able to connect an individual illness to a broader outbreak.
The CDC and FDA are urging consumers not to eat the recalled eggs. Anyone who still has the affected products should throw them away or return them to the store where they were purchased.
Health officials are also advising people to thoroughly clean surfaces, containers and other items that may have come into contact with the recalled eggs because salmonella can spread through contaminated areas.
Salmonella infections can cause diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps and dehydration.
Young children, adults 65 and older and people with weakened immune systems face an increased risk of severe illness.
The CDC estimates salmonella causes approximately 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths in the United States each year.
Most patients recover with rest and hydration, but serious cases can become much more dangerous if the bacteria enter the bloodstream and spread beyond the digestive system.
Severe infections can lead to complications involving the heart, bones, brain, spinal cord or joints and may require hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics.
Some patients can also suffer longer-term complications, including reactive arthritis or post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome.
Salmonella Enteritidis can contaminate eggs before they are laid if the bacteria infect a hen’s reproductive system. In those cases, the bacteria can become sealed inside the egg itself, meaning the egg may look, smell and taste completely normal.
Contamination can also happen after laying when eggs come into contact with feces, dirty nesting material or contaminated surfaces.
Midwest Poultry Services said the recall was initiated through ‘proactive environmental monitoring practices.’
Federal officials are continuing to urge consumers to check their refrigerators carefully as the Class I recall remains in effect across multiple states.
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