Summary (tl;dr)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Class I recall, its most serious level, for over 1.5 million dozen eggs from Midwest Poultry Services due to widespread Salmonella contamination, impacting consumers across several Southern and Southwestern states.

Essential Background

Salmonella Enteritidis is a bacterium that can cause salmonellosis, a serious infection leading to symptoms like fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. While most healthy individuals recover, the infection can be severe or even fatal for young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. A Class I recall is the highest level of recall issued by the FDA, signifying that there is a reasonable probability that using or being exposed to the contaminated product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.

The Full Story

In late July 2026, Midwest Poultry Services, also known as MPS Egg Farms, voluntarily recalled approximately 1.5 million dozen white and brown cage-free shell eggs after identifying a potential contamination with Salmonella Enteritidis. These eggs were produced at two of the company's farms in Texas between June 6 and July 3, 2026, and had "sell by" or "best by" dates ranging from July 20 to August 17, 2026. By mid-August 2026, the FDA escalated this action to a Class I recall, underscoring the severe health risk posed by the contaminated products. The recalled eggs were distributed to various foodservice and retail customers, including major grocery chains like Kroger and Brookshire's, across Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico, and Mississippi. As of August 12, 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 98 illnesses and 26 hospitalizations across 17 states linked to this outbreak, with the recalled eggs identified as a likely source.

Why It Matters

This Class I recall is critical because of the high potential for serious illness or death from consuming the contaminated eggs. The extensive distribution of the eggs across multiple states means a significant portion of the population could be at risk. Consumers are urged to check their egg cartons for specific identifying codes (P-1950 or 0840962 with Julian Dates between 157 and 184) and discard or return any affected products immediately. This event highlights the ongoing challenges in food safety within the poultry industry and the essential role of regulatory oversight by the FDA in protecting public health.

Geographic Location

• Texas, United States (origin of contaminated eggs from Midwest Poultry Services farms)
• Texas, United States (distribution and sale of recalled eggs)
• Oklahoma, United States (distribution and sale of recalled eggs)
• Louisiana, United States (distribution and sale of recalled eggs)
• Arkansas, United States (distribution and sale of recalled eggs)
• New Mexico, United States (distribution and sale of recalled eggs)
• Mississippi, United States (distribution and sale of recalled eggs)