On Friday, August Egg Company issued a voluntary recall of approximately 1,700,000 dozen brown cage-free and certified organic eggs (around 20,400,000 eggs) due to potential contamination concerns.
The recall affects eggs distributed across nine states and is part of an ongoing investigation into an outbreak. The details of the affected products, including distribution timelines and specific locations, remain limited at this stage.
According to Newsweek, the recall has been initiated as a precautionary measure to ensure public safety. More information may be provided as the investigation progresses and further details emerge.
The Scope of the Recall
The recalled eggs were distributed to various grocery stores, including Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raleys, Food 4 Less, and Ralphs.
The eggs were distributed between February 3, 2025, and May 15, 2025, with sell-by dates of March 4, 2025, and June 4, 2025, in California and Nevada.
Another batch of eggs was distributed between February 3, 2025, and May 6, 2025, with sell-by dates of March 4, 2025, and June 19, 2025, in Walmart stores across Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, and Wyoming.
Consumers can identify the recalled eggs using the plant codes P-6562 or CA5330, with Julian Dates ranging from 32 to 126. These Julian Dates correspond to the date the eggs were packaged or manufactured, which is crucial for identifying affected products.
Health Risks of Salmonella
Salmonella Enteritidis is a type of bacteria that can cause serious foodborne illness.
According to the FDA, salmonella infections can be particularly dangerous for vulnerable groups, including young children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.
While many individuals may experience mild symptoms, others, especially those in at-risk categories, can experience severe or even fatal infections.
The FDA also highlights that eggs are one of the nine major food allergens in the United States, which include milk, fish, wheat, and soybeans, among others.
Company’s Response to the Situation
In response to the recall, August Egg Company reassured consumers that the company has taken immediate action.
The company is not selling fresh shell eggs at this time and has been diverting eggs to an egg-breaking plant for over 30 days, where they are pasteurized to kill any potential pathogens. This process helps eliminate the risk of contamination.
The company’s statement included the following:
“This recall is associated with an ongoing outbreak investigation of Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses,” the FDA alert says, adding that the investigation is related to products distributed in the nine states.
Furthermore, August Egg Company emphasized:
“August Egg Company of Hilmar, CA is voluntarily recalling 1,700,000 dozen shell eggs processed at our California plant and sold to various grocery customers.”
“This recall has been initiated due to possible Salmonella Enteritidis contamination, which poses a health risk. With that in mind, we believe it is appropriate out of an abundance of caution to conduct this voluntary recall, as consumers may still have these eggs in their homes.”
The company also added:
“It is important to know that when our processing plant identified this concern, we immediately began diverting all eggs from the plant to an egg-breaking facility, which pasteurizes the eggs and kills any pathogens.”
In addition, August Egg Company has stated that its internal food safety team is conducting a thorough review to determine what measures can be implemented to prevent this issue from recurring in the future. The company is committed to fully addressing the situation and implementing corrective actions.
“August Egg Company’s internal food safety team also is conducting its own stringent review to identify what measures can be established to prevent this situation from recurring. We are committed to addressing this matter fully and to implementing all necessary corrective actions to ensure this does not happen again.”
Consumers who have purchased the recalled eggs are encouraged to return them to the place of purchase for a refund. Those seeking additional information can contact August Egg Company at 1-800-710-2554 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT.
