A massive egg recall affecting nearly 1.6 million dozen eggs has been elevated to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s highest risk warning as officials investigate a salmonella outbreak that has sickened nearly 100 people. On August 12, the FDA reclassified the recall of nearly 1.6 million dozen cage-free white and brown eggs over concerns they may be contaminated with salmonella. The recall is now designated as Class I, which the FDA defines as “a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that use or exposure to the infringing product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.” At least 98 people in 17 states have been sickened in the outbreak linked to the recalled eggs as of July 24, with 26 people hospitalized. Illnesses were reported from November 21, 2025, to June 30, 2026. The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were aware of 26 hospitalizations related to the outbreak, but no deaths were reported. Midwest Poultry Services identified the problem through “proactive environmental monitoring practices and root cause analysis,” according to an FDA recall report. As of July 22, the company was no longer distributing fresh eggs from its Texas farms. But the recalled eggs remain a concern because their sell-by and sell-by dates extend to August 17. The eggs were produced in Texas and shipped to locations across the state, as well as throughout the southern and southwestern U.S., including food service retail outlets in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Oklahoma. The affected eggs were available at Kroger stores in Texas and Louisiana and at Brookshire Grocery locations in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Mississippi, as well as “other smaller retail outlets,” according to the initial recall alert. The specific egg products covered by the recall are listed in the enforcement report. Midwest Poultry Services previously warned consumers not to eat the recalled eggs and instead return them to the place of purchase for a refund. The recall reclassification comes as the Trump administration faces a series of health crises related to food safety in the U.S. The United States has been experiencing one of the largest foodborne illness outbreaks in recorded history, with confirmed cases of lettuce-related cyclosporiasis exceeding 13,000. Another salmonella outbreak involving jalapenos also led to recalls of Taylor Farms products sold in 26 states. On Monday, the FDA announced changes to its rules governing how food manufacturers notify the agency about ingredients coming to market. While the change would close a regulatory loophole, it falls short of the administration’s promises to dramatically reform food regulations.
