A multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to recalled eggs has sickened 98 people and hospitalized 26 across 17 states, according to health officials.
The CDC, the FDA and public health officials in several states are investigating the outbreak, which has been traced to Midwest Poultry Services. The company issued a voluntary recall of more than 1.5 million dozen eggs on July 22, 2026, over Salmonella concerns.
The recall covers brown cage-free and white shell eggs sold under the brand names Kroger, Simple Truth, Brookshire's, Cal-Maine and Country Morning, with sell-by or best-by dates ranging from July 20 to August 17, 2026. The eggs were produced and distributed from Texas farms between June 6 and July 3, and shipped to foodservice and retail customers in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and New Mexico.
Major retailers that received the eggs include Kroger stores in Texas and Louisiana and Brookshire Grocery locations throughout the region. No deaths have been reported in this outbreak.
Midwest Poultry Services said the recall was initiated after "proactive environmental monitoring practices" identified possible contamination, and the company has temporarily halted distribution from its Texas farms as a precaution.
Salmonellosis, the disease caused by the bacteria, can cause diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps and dehydration. Health officials say these symptoms require immediate medical attention, particularly for children under five, adults over 65 and people with weakened immune systems.
The outbreak comes months after a separate Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak linked to backyard poultry flocks killed one person and hospitalized 53 others across 31 states.
The CDC estimates that Salmonella causes about 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths in the United States each year.
How severe cases can escalate
Most cases resolve with supportive care such as hydration and rest. But in severe cases, the infection can spread beyond the gastrointestinal tract.
When Salmonella enters the bloodstream, a condition known as bacteremia, it can travel to other parts of the body and cause secondary infections. These can include endocarditis, an infection of the heart valves; osteomyelitis, a bone infection; meningitis, an infection of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord; or septic arthritis, a joint infection. These invasive infections often require intravenous antibiotics in a hospital setting.
Children under 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems, including those undergoing chemotherapy, living with HIV/AIDS or taking immunosuppressive medications, are most vulnerable to severe illness.
Invasive salmonellosis can also cause long-term complications after the initial infection resolves. Some people develop reactive arthritis, marked by joint pain, eye inflammation and painful urination that can persist for months or years. Others develop post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome, with chronic digestive issues stemming from damage to the intestinal lining.
How the eggs become contaminated
Salmonella Enteritidis can contaminate eggs in two ways: through the hen and through the environment.
Inside the hen's reproductive system, bacteria can colonize the intestinal tract and spread to the ovaries and oviduct, the organ where eggs form. The bacteria can then be incorporated directly into the yolk or egg white before the shell forms, meaning the egg is contaminated from the moment it is laid. Because the bacteria are inside the egg rather than on the surface, the egg can look completely normal, and no amount of washing removes this contamination. Only cooking to an internal temperature of 160F kills the bacteria.
Recalled eggs can also become contaminated after being laid, when they contact dirty nesting material, contaminated bedding or feces in the laying environment. US egg producers follow washing and sanitizing protocols to remove surface bacteria, but these measures are not foolproof, especially if a shell has microscopic cracks or the washing process is compromised. Salmonella can survive on surfaces for weeks, making it hard to eliminate from poultry facilities entirely.
Midwest Poultry Services said its recall was initiated through proactive environmental monitoring practices, which likely detected the bacteria in its facilities or in the eggs themselves. Because contaminated eggs look, smell and taste normal, officials say removing them from the supply chain before they reach consumers is the only way to prevent illness.
