The August Egg Company, based in Hilmar, California, issued a voluntary recall of approximately 1.7 million brown cage-free and certified organic eggs due to a multistate Salmonella outbreak.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are actively investigating the outbreak, which has sickened at least 79 people across seven states, with 21 hospitalizations reported and no deaths.
The recall affects eggs distributed to retailers in Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Washington, and Wyoming between February 3 and May 15, 2025, with sell-by dates ranging from March 4 to June 19, 2025.
The recalled eggs, sold under brands such as Clover, First Street, Nulaid, O Organics, Marketside, Raleys, Simple Truth, Sun Harvest, and Sunnyside, were distributed to major retailers including Walmart, Safeway, Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Food 4 Less, and Ralphs.
The eggs are identifiable by plant code numbers P-6562 or CA5330 printed on the packaging. The CDC has linked the outbreak to Salmonella Enteritidis, with 27 of 30 interviewed cases reporting consumption of eggs or egg-containing dishes before falling ill.
FDA inspections at August Egg Company’s processing facility confirmed the presence of Salmonella, with samples matching the outbreak strain through Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis.
Salmonella is a bacterial infection that typically causes diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps within 6 hours to 6 days of exposure, with symptoms lasting 4 to 7 days.
While most people recover without treatment, severe cases can require hospitalization, particularly in vulnerable groups such as children under five, adults over 65, and those with weakened immune systems.
The CDC estimates Salmonella causes about 1.35 million infections annually in the U.S., making it a leading cause of foodborne illness.
The August Egg Company has halted the sale of fresh shell eggs and is diverting eggs to an egg-breaking facility for pasteurization to eliminate pathogens.
The company is also conducting an internal review to prevent future outbreaks, stating, “We are committed to addressing this matter fully and to implementing all necessary corrective actions.” Consumers are urged to check their refrigerators for recalled eggs, discard them, or return them for a refund.
Surfaces and containers that may have come into contact with the eggs should be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized to prevent cross-contamination.
The CDC advises anyone experiencing symptoms such as high fever, severe diarrhea, or dehydration to contact a healthcare provider.
Businesses, including restaurants and retailers, are instructed not to sell or serve the recalled eggs and to sanitize any equipment or surfaces exposed to them.
The FDA and CDC continue to monitor the situation, noting that the true number of cases may be higher, as many individuals recover without seeking medical care or testing.
