If you’ve bought eggs recently at Kroger, Brookshire’s, or a handful of other regional grocery chains, it’s worth checking the carton before your next omelet. A Texas egg producer has recalled roughly 1.5 million dozen eggs — about 19 million individual eggs — after they were linked to a multistate salmonella outbreak that’s already sickened 98 people and sent 26 to the hospital.
Key Takeaways
- Midwest Poultry Services, L.P. recalled shell eggs sold under the Kroger, Simple Truth, Brookshire’s, Cal-Maine Sunups, and Country Morning brand names after testing raised contamination concerns.
- The outbreak has sickened 98 people across 17 states, with 26 hospitalizations and no deaths reported as of the latest count.
- Genetic testing found the outbreak strain is resistant to two antibiotics normally used to treat severe Salmonella infections, which could complicate treatment in serious cases.
- Illnesses date back to November 2025 — seven months before the recalled eggs were even produced — meaning health officials say this recall doesn’t fully explain the outbreak, and the investigation into a possible additional source remains open.
What’s Actually Been Recalled
The recalled eggs — both white shell eggs and brown cage-free eggs — were produced on Texas farms between June 6 and July 3, 2026, with “sell by” or “best by” dates between July 20 and August 17, 2026. They were sold in bulk and retail carton sizes ranging from 6 to 60 eggs, distributed to stores and foodservice customers across Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, and New Mexico. To check if your eggs are affected, look at the side (not the top) of the carton for a code printed in date-coding ink: the carton is recalled only if it shows either P-1950 or 0840962, combined with a Julian date between 157 and 184. If your carton matches, throw the eggs away or return them for a refund, and wash any surfaces, containers, or utensils that may have touched them with hot, soapy water.
A Detail Worth Knowing: This Strain Resists Standard Treatment
Whole genome sequencing of the bacteria from all 98 confirmed patients found the outbreak strain is resistant to nalidixic acid and nonsusceptible to ciprofloxacin — two antibiotics that are among the standard options doctors reach for in severe Salmonella cases. This doesn’t change how most people should handle a mild case, since most healthy people recover from salmonella without any antibiotic treatment at all. But it’s a meaningful detail for anyone who develops a severe infection, since it may narrow the treatment options a doctor has available and is worth mentioning if you’re diagnosed and treatment is being discussed.
Why This Recall Might Not Be the Whole Story
Here’s a detail that’s easy to miss in the broader coverage: according to the FDA’s own outbreak investigation, illness onset dates for this outbreak strain range all the way back to November 21, 2025 — more than seven months before Midwest Poultry’s recalled eggs were even produced. That timeline gap means the recalled eggs can’t explain the earliest cases in this outbreak, and the FDA’s own language describes the recalled eggs as “a likely source” rather than the confirmed sole source. Some coverage of this outbreak has reported that investigators are looking into whether an additional, unidentified source may also be involved; the investigation remains listed as open. In practical terms, this means checking your carton against the recall codes is worthwhile, but it isn’t necessarily a complete guarantee if you’ve had unexplained symptoms — a genuinely thorough approach also means following the general food-safety habits below regardless of the specific brand in your fridge.
General Salmonella Prevention
Whether or not your eggs are part of this specific recall, the same core habits reduce your risk: refrigerate eggs and poultry promptly rather than letting them sit out, cook eggs and chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F, wash your hands after handling raw eggs or poultry, and sanitize any surfaces or utensils that come into contact with them. Symptoms of salmonella infection — typically diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps — usually appear 12 to 72 hours after exposure and last about four to seven days. Anyone with a fever above 102°F, diarrhea lasting more than two days, bloody diarrhea, or signs of dehydration should contact a doctor rather than waiting it out, particularly children under 5, adults over 65, and people with weakened immune systems, who face a higher risk of severe illness.
Sources: FDA, “Midwest Poultry Services, L.P. Recalls Shell Eggs Due to Possible Salmonella Enteritidis Contamination” and “Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Eggs (July 2026)”; CDC, Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Eggs; NBC Select, “1.5 million cartons of eggs have been recalled for Salmonella” (Aug. 5, 2026).