FDA Elevates Egg Recall Due to Salmonella Risk to ‘Serious’ Health Threat, Warning of Potential Deaths

In late September, the Food and Drug Administration revised an earlier egg recall advisory to warn customers of serious effects, including death, if consumed.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention first issued the recall on September 6, and it was elevated to Class I on September 30 as a product that “will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”

According to the original recall announcement, 65 persons in nine states became sick with salmonella after eating eggs supplied by Milo’s Poultry Farms LLC between May 23 and August 10. There were no deaths reported, but 24 people were hospitalized, according to the CDC.

Milo’s Poultry Farms is located in Bonduel, Wisconsin, approximately 29 miles north of Green Bay.

The FDA announced that the small company grocery store has voluntarily recalled all eggs supplied by its farm. The FDA reported that the recalled eggs were supplied to retailers and food service distributors in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan.

USA TODAY contacted Milo’s Poultry Farms and Tony’s Fresh Market for comment.

“Our customers’ health and safety is our number one priority. “We are fully cooperating with the FDA in their investigation and have taken immediate action by removing all affected products related to this recall from our shelves,” Marisa Kutansky, a representative for Heritage Grocers Group, the owner of Tony’s Fresh Market, told USA TODAY.

Here’s what you should know about the egg recall.

Which eggs are being recalled?

According to the FDA, all carton sizes with expiration dates of October 12 or earlier for the following brands of eggs are being recalled:

Milo’s Poultry Farm

M & E Family Farms

Tony’s Fresh Market

The notice also includes Happy Quackers Farm duck eggs, which are marketed in a 12-count carton and packaged by Milo’s Poultry Farms.

Which states have reported cases of salmonella?

According to the inquiry, the following states reported cases associated with the outbreak:

California

Colorado

Iowa

Illinois

Michigan

Minnesota

Utah

Virginia

Wisconsin

How many people have been sickened?

Nine states have reported salmonella illnesses related to the egg recall. Cases from each state:

California (2)

Colorado (1)

Iowa (2)

Illinois (11)

Michigan (2)

Minnesota (3)

Utah (1)

Virginia (1)

Wisconsin (42)

The CDC inquiry analyzed the demographics of the 65 cases reported for the egg recall. Salmonella infections affected people ranging in age from 2 to 88 years old, with 56% female and 46% male. The 65 cases were predominantly white (92%), followed by African-American or Black (5%), and Asian (3%).

What should you do if you own the recalled eggs?

Consumers, restaurants, and retailers that have the recalled eggs should do the following:

Do not consume, sell, or serve recalled chicken eggs made by Milo’s Poultry Farms and delivered to restaurants and shops in Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

Thoroughly clean and disinfect any surfaces or containers that the eggs have touched.

Dispose of any eggs you feel are related to the recall.

Wash your hands, utensils, and surfaces with hot, soapy water before and after handling raw eggs and egg-containing foods.

If you feel you have symptoms of a salmonella infection after eating eggs, contact your healthcare practitioner right away.

The symptoms of salmonella illness

According to the CDC, frequent symptoms of salmonella are:

Stomach cramps.

Diarrhea with a fever above 102 degrees.

Diarrhea lasting longer than three days does not improve.

Bloody diarrhea.

Vomiting and difficulty in keeping beverages down.

Signs of dehydration.

What is Salmonella?

Salmonella bacterium can cause diarrhea, fever, and stomach pains. According to the CDC, symptoms can emerge within six hours to six days of infection and persist four to seven days.

The FDA stated that children under the age of five, the elderly, and immunocompromised people are more prone to develop severe infections if they get salmonella.