Salmonella outbreak in eggs being investigated, recall issued
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration June 6 issued a recall for 1.7 million dozen chicken eggs distributed by the August Egg Company of Hilmar, California. FDA advises not to eat, sell or serve the recalled eggs, as the agency’s investigation continues.
According to the FDA website, the recalled eggs are brown cage free eggs and brown certified organic eggs. These were sold under multiple brand names at restaurants and retailers. They should no longer be available for sale.
The recalled eggs have a printed Julian Date between “32” and “126” followed by a plant code number “P-6562” or “CA-5330” on the egg carton or package. The recalled eggs sold at retail stores are packed in fiber or plastic cartons, with the above codes printed on one side of the carton.
Brands the recalled eggs were sold under include Clover, First Street, Nulaid, O Organics, Marketside, Raleys, Simple Truth, Sun Harvest, and Sunnyside. The recalled eggs were distributed from Feb. 3 through May 15, with sell by dates from March 4 to June 4, in California and Nevada to retail locations including Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raleys, Food 4 Less, and Ralphs.
The eggs were also distributed from Feb. 3 through May 6, with sell by dates from March 4 to June 19, to Walmart locations in California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, Indiana, and Illinois.
FDA is working with the August Egg Company to determine if eggs were distributed elsewhere and will update the advisory as information becomes available.
Any surfaces or containers the eggs came in contact with should be carefully cleaned and sanitized. Wash hands, utensils, and surfaces with hot, soapy water before and after handling raw eggs and raw egg-containing foods. Follow FDA’s safe handling and cleaning advice and use extra care to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
Check refrigerators for the recalled brown cage free and brown certified organic eggs and throw them away or return them to the place of purchase. If you stored the eggs without the original packaging and can’t tell if it is part of this outbreak, throw them away.
Illness
According to the FDA, illness from a salmonella infection occurs usually within 12 to 72 hours of eating contaminated food, and symptoms normally last four to seven days. Those symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Children younger than five, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe infections.
According to the FDA, 27 of 30 cases with information available reported exposure to eggs or an egg containing dish before becoming ill. There have been 21 hospitalizations, and no deaths have been reported.
Contact your healthcare provider if you think you may have developed symptoms of a Salmonella infection, after eating eggs.
Reporting
Complete and submit the report online at www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/index.cfm?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery.
Download form at www.fda.gov/safety/medical-product-safety-information/medwatch-forms-fda-safety-reporting?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178.
Kylene Scott can be reached at 620-227-1804 or [email protected].
