Federal health officials are investigating a multistate Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak linked to shell eggs produced in Texas, prompting a recall of more than 1.5 million dozen eggs.
Midwest Poultry Services voluntarily recalled 1,589,577 dozen white and brown cage-free shell eggs on July 22. The eggs were produced at Texas farms between June 6 and July 3 and carried sell-by or best-by dates from July 20 through Aug. 17.
The products were shipped to retail and food-service customers in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. Distribution included Kroger stores in Texas and Louisiana and Brookshire Grocery stores in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Mississippi, along with smaller retailers.
Consumers should look for plant codes P-1950 or 0840962 and Julian dates from 157 through 184 printed on the carton. The recall includes multiple Kroger, Simple Truth, Brookshire's, Country Morning and Sunups products, as well as bulk food-service eggs.
The Food and Drug Administration advised consumers not to eat recalled eggs. They should throw the eggs away or return them to the place of purchase for a refund, then clean and sanitize refrigerators, containers and surfaces that may have touched them.
Salmonella can cause fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of severe infection. Anyone with serious symptoms should contact a health care provider.
Midwest Poultry Services said environmental monitoring identified the potential contamination and that it was not distributing fresh eggs from its Texas farms while the investigation continued.
