The Food and Drug Administration has upgraded a massive egg recall to its highest risk classification, warning that exposure to the contaminated products could cause serious adverse health consequences or death. On August 12, 2026, the FDA designated the recall as Class I, a designation reserved for situations presenting a reasonable probability of serious illness or death.
Midwest Poultry Services, an Indiana-based company, initially issued the voluntary recall on July 22, 2026, for approximately 1.6 million dozen white shell eggs and brown cage-free shell eggs. The eggs were produced at two Texas farms between June 6 and July 3, 2026, and carry sell-by or best-by dates ranging from July 20 to August 17, 2026.
The recalled eggs were distributed across six states and sold at major retailers. Kroger stores in Texas and Louisiana carried the eggs, as did Brookshire Grocery stores in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Mississippi. The eggs were also shipped to foodservice and retail customers in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana under multiple brand names.
The recall stems from a multistate Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak that has sickened 98 people across 17 states. Of those infected, 26 have been hospitalized, though no deaths have been reported. The outbreak spans an unusual timeline, with illness onset dates ranging from November 21, 2025, to June 30, 2026, well before and after the recalled eggs were produced.
Midwest Poultry Services discovered the potential contamination through routine environmental monitoring and root-cause analysis at its Texas farms. After submitting third-party lab results to the FDA on July 21, the company immediately initiated the recall the following day. The firm has since halted distribution of fresh eggs from those facilities.
Among the 44 people interviewed about their illness, 91 percent reported eating eggs before becoming sick. Laboratory testing performed by a third-party firm confirmed that Salmonella samples collected from the Texas farms matched the outbreak strain found in sick individuals.
To identify potentially contaminated cartons, consumers should look for product codes P-1950 or 0840962 printed in date-coding ink on the side of the egg carton, paired with a Julian date between 157 and 184. The FDA website and Midwest Poultry Services’ hotline at 574-405-9531 provide comprehensive lists of affected products and brands.
Salmonella can cause serious infections, particularly in vulnerable populations. Young children, people over 65, and those with weakened immune systems face increased risk of complications requiring medical treatment or hospitalization. Healthy individuals typically experience fever, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. In rare cases, the infection can enter the bloodstream and cause more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis, or arthritis.
Health officials have advised consumers to avoid eating the recalled eggs and to return them to their place of purchase for a full refund. Those who have eggs in their home should wash any items and surfaces that may have contacted the eggs using hot soapy water or a dishwasher.
Notably, the outbreak strain exhibits unusual antibiotic resistance. Genetic sequencing revealed that the Salmonella Enteritidis strain does not respond to ciprofloxacin, a standard first-line antibiotic used to treat such infections, and shows resistance to nalidixic acid as well. This finding complicates treatment options for affected individuals.
The FDA has acknowledged that Midwest Poultry Services does not account for all illnesses in the outbreak cluster. Federal investigators emphasize that additional investigation is ongoing to identify whether other egg sources may have contributed to the outbreak. The unusual gap between illness onset dates and egg production dates suggests other potential sources remain unidentified.
This recall adds to an already challenging food safety landscape. Health officials are simultaneously grappling with other serious outbreaks, including a cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to recalled iceberg lettuce that has spread to at least 47 states, and a separate Salmonella outbreak tied to jalapeños that has sickened nearly 350 Americans.