A nationwide recall has been issued after a salmonella outbreak traced to eggs from August Egg Company sickened at least 79 people across seven states, prompting renewed scrutiny of food safety practices and oversight, Quartz reports.
On June 6, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the August Egg Company voluntarily recalled 1.7 million brown cage-free and certified organic eggs. The recall includes eggs sold at major retailers including Walmart, Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raley’s, Food 4 Less, and Ralphs.
So far, 21 people have been hospitalized across California, Nevada, Kentucky, New Jersey, Nebraska, and Washington. No deaths have been reported. However, the CDC cautions that the true number of infections is likely higher, as many cases go unreported and confirmation of an outbreak can take several weeks.
The CDC is advising consumers not to eat, sell, or serve the recalled eggs. Salmonella infections can be particularly dangerous for young children, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Symptoms typically include fever, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. In rare cases, the infection can cause more severe conditions such as arthritis or infected aneurysms.
“Consumers should check the packaging of eggs purchased recently and discard any that match the recall information,” the CDC said in its advisory.
Salmonella contamination in eggs can occur through fecal matter on the shell or internally through infected ovaries of healthy hens. This internal contamination makes even organic or cage-free eggs vulnerable.
While the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has enforced strict sanitation standards for over five decades, experts note that some contamination occurs before eggs are even laid.
This outbreak comes amid heightened concern over foodborne illnesses and the agencies tasked with preventing them. Recent reports, including from NPR, have pointed to reduced staffing and increased workloads at federal food safety agencies like the CDC, FDA, and USDA following budget cuts during the Trump administration.
According to the Department of Agriculture, salmonella infections cost the US economy approximately $4.1 billion annually, with an estimated $88 million lost due to reduced workforce productivity.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified the August Egg Company recall as a Class I, its most serious designation.
