The Food and Drug Administration has upgraded a massive egg recall to its highest-risk classification, warning that contaminated products could cause serious illness or even death.

The FDA announced Wednesday that the recall involving approximately 1.6 million brown and white eggs has been classified as a Class I recall — the agency’s most serious designation.

A Class I recall is issued when there is a “reasonable probability” that exposure to a recalled product could result in serious health consequences or death.

The eggs, produced by Midwest Poultry Services, were recalled last month over concerns about possible contamination with Salmonella Enteritidis.

The recalled eggs were produced and distributed from Texas farms between June 6 and July 3, 2026, with sell-by or best-by dates ranging from July 20 through Aug. 17.

The products were distributed across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Mississippi, including through Kroger and Brookshire Grocery stores.

Consumers can identify the recalled eggs by checking for the codes P-1950 or 0840962, along with Julian dates ranging from 157 to 184 printed on the cartons.

The FDA urged consumers to check the full recall information before eating any potentially affected eggs.

The recall became even more concerning after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention linked the products to a Salmonella outbreak.

According to the CDC, the outbreak has sickened 98 people, with 26 requiring hospitalization across 17 states.

Salmonella infection can cause diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. While many people recover without serious complications, infections can be particularly dangerous for young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

Health officials are urging anyone who has recalled eggs to throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.

Consumers should also thoroughly clean countertops, utensils, dishes and other surfaces that may have come into contact with the eggs. The CDC recommends washing contaminated items with hot, soapy water or using a dishwasher.

The FDA stressed that no other Midwest Poultry Services products are included in the recall.

The egg recall comes as health officials are also dealing with several other foodborne illness concerns across the country, including a separate Salmonella outbreak associated with jalapeños.

Whole Foods recently recalled a number of prepared foods and produce items containing jalapeños because of the potential contamination. The company said no illnesses had been reported in connection with those recalled products.

Meanwhile, an ongoing Cyclospora outbreak linked to recalled iceberg lettuce has also spread across dozens of states.

Consumers who have purchased eggs matching the recall information should avoid eating them and check the FDA’s official recall notice for the complete list of affected products.

Source: nypost.com