Eggs Recalled as Salmonella Warning Issued

Two brands of eggs are being pulled from store shelves in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan after a salmonella warning.

In an announcement published on Friday, the Food and Drug Administration said eggs from the brands Milo’s Poultry Farms and Tony’s Fresh Market, which are distributed by Milo’s Poultry Farms LLC, were being recalled across the three states because they were possibly contaminated with salmonella.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the strain of salmonella was found in the packing facility and the hen egg-laying house at Milo’s Poultry Farms in Wisconsin. Newsweek has contacted Milo’s Poultry Farms for comment by phone.

The recall comes amid a salmonella outbreak in the Midwest. According to the CDC, 65 people from nine states—including the three where the eggs were sold—have been sickened by the same strain of salmonella, with 42 of those who have become ill coming from Wisconsin and 11 coming from Illinois.

California, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Utah and Virginia are also affected. The CDC said 24 people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.

Consuming food that has been contaminated with salmonella can lead to salmonellosis, one of the most prevalent bacterial foodborne infections. Symptoms typically include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever, which may emerge six hours to six days following the consumption of the tainted food, the Food Safety and Inspection Service said.

Most people infected recover within four to seven days without treatment, though some people—particularly children under the age of 5, adults 65 and older, and individuals with weakened immune systems—may experience more severe illness.

The affected products include all carton sizes and all egg types labeled Milo’s Poultry Farms, all carton sizes of eggs branded Tony’s Fresh Market, and all cases of eggs for retail food service distribution. The recall covers all expiration dates.

The FDA said the recall was initiated after it informed the company that environmental samples tested positive for the bacteria.

Since then, Milo’s Poultry Farms has ceased production and distribution, the FDA said, and is set to undergo “appropriate testing and sanitization of farms and processing equipment.”

Consumers who have purchased eggs branded Milo’s Poultry Farms or Tony’s Fresh Market are urged not to consume them. They should throw them away or return them to the point of purchase and wash any surfaces the eggs may have touched with hot, soapy water.

The CDC has cautioned that the outbreak may be challenging to treat with commonly recommended antibiotics. Lab tests have shown that this strain is resistant to both nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin, the agency said, indicating that different treatment options may be necessary for those who fall ill.