1.7 Million Dozen Eggs Recalled After Salmonella Outbreak Kills One

A California egg distributor recalled approximately 1.7 million dozen eggs in June 2025 after a Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak sickened 134 people across 10 states, hospitalized 38, and killed one person in California. The recalled eggs were sold at major retailers including Walmart and Safeway under brand names many consumers trust, including Clover, O Organics, Simple Truth, and Marketside.

The outbreak, confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, represents one of the largest egg-related food safety events in recent years. It also raises questions about how long contaminated products circulated before the recall: illnesses began as early as February 24, 2025, but the recall was not issued until June 6.

What Happened

August Egg Company, based in Hilmar, California, recalled brown cage-free and organic eggs after the CDC and FDA traced a cluster of Salmonella illnesses back to the facility. The contaminated eggs had been distributed between February 3 and May 15, 2025, meaning they were on store shelves and in consumers' refrigerators for months before the recall took effect.

According to the CDC, 134 people were infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis. Of the 112 people for whom the CDC had detailed information, 38 were hospitalized. One person in California died.

The eggs reached consumers in nine states: Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Washington, and Wyoming. They were sold under multiple brand names at both large national chains and regional grocery stores.

Which Brands Were Affected

The recall covered all chicken egg varieties from August Egg Company, including organic, cage-free brown, and omega-3 enhanced eggs. Affected brand names included:

• Clover
• First Street
• Nulaid
• O Organics
• Marketside (Walmart's private label)
• Raley's
• Simple Truth (Kroger's natural brand)
• Sun Harvest
• Sunnyside

If you purchased any of these brands between February and June 2025, the CDC recommended throwing them out or returning them to the store for a refund.

Understanding Salmonella Enteritidis

Salmonella Enteritidis is a bacterial strain that can infect the ovaries of healthy-looking hens, contaminating the inside of eggs before the shells are even formed. This means even eggs that look clean and uncracked can harbor the pathogen.

Symptoms typically appear 6 hours to 6 days after eating contaminated food and include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Most people recover within 4 to 7 days without treatment, but the infection can be severe or fatal for young children, elderly adults, and people with weakened immune systems.

Thorough cooking kills Salmonella. The FDA recommends cooking eggs until both the yolk and white are firm, with an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Dishes made with raw or undercooked eggs, such as Caesar dressing, homemade mayonnaise, or runny scrambled eggs, carry higher risk.

The Timeline Gap

One of the most concerning aspects of this outbreak is the gap between when people started getting sick and when the recall was issued. The CDC reported illnesses with onset dates starting February 24, 2025. The recall did not come until June 6, more than three months later.

This timeline reflects the reality of foodborne illness surveillance in the United States. Individual cases of Salmonella are common and often go unreported. It takes time for state and federal health agencies to identify a pattern, confirm the outbreak strain through laboratory testing, and trace the source through the food distribution chain.

During those three months, contaminated eggs continued to reach consumers. According to NBC's Today, the eggs were distributed to restaurants and retail stores across nine states, with distribution records showing shipments running through May 15, 2025.

What This Means for You

Egg recalls are not unusual, but the scale of this one (1.7 million dozen across nine states and multiple beloved store brands) is a reminder that food safety failures can happen anywhere in the supply chain, regardless of how the product is labeled.

Here is how to protect yourself. Always cook eggs thoroughly, with firm yolks and whites. Refrigerate eggs at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Do not eat eggs past their use-by date. Wash hands, utensils, and surfaces that contact raw eggs.

If you experience diarrhea, fever, or stomach cramps after eating eggs, contact your healthcare provider and report the illness to your local health department. Reporting helps investigators identify outbreaks faster, potentially shortening the gap between contamination and recall.

For ongoing food recall alerts, the CDC and FDA maintain public databases, and tools like VeriFoods track recall information linked to specific products.

Sources

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - "Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Eggs" - June 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/outbreaks/eggs-06-25/index.html
2. NPR - "Salmonella outbreak linked to California egg distributor sickens 79 people" - June 7, 2025. https://www.npr.org/2025/06/07/nx-s1-5426614/salmonella-outbreak-california-eggs
3. Today / NBC News - "Nearly 2 Million Dozen Eggs Recalled in 9 States Over Salmonella Risk" - June 2025. https://www.today.com/health/recall/eggs-recalled-salmonella-contamination-rcna211702
4. AARP - "August Egg Company Eggs Recalled for Salmonella Outbreak" - June 2025. https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/egg-recall-salmonella-outbreak-june-2025.html