Nearly 100 people have been sickened in 14 states after eating eggs contaminated with a deadly bacteria.
The CDC has confirmed 95 cases in the outbreak, all linked to salmonella, which can cause severe health issues, including a potentially fatal blood infection.
Eighteen people have been hospitalized, the agency said. There have been no deaths reported to date.
This outbreak has been traced back to Large Brown Cage-Free ‘Sunshine Yolks’ by Country Eggs, a California-based company. The FDA has issued a recall for these eggs.
The implicated cartons were marketed under the brand names Nagatoshi Produce, Misuho, and Nijiya Markets. For restaurants, they were labeled as ‘Sunshine Yolks’ or ‘Omega-3 Golden Yolks’.
They have sell-by dates from July 1 to September 16.
Officials are worried the eggs might still be in consumers’ homes and recommend disposing of them or returning them to receive a full refund.
People are also being told to wash items and surfaces that came into contact with the eggs.
Nearly 100 people have been sickened with salmonella in the US after eating cage-free eggs (stock image)
The CDC revealed the recall in a notice today, and said that most of the patients were in California (73 cases in the state).
Other states affected include Minnesota with four cases, Nevada and Washington with three cases each, North Carolina and New York with two cases each, and single cases in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania. The identity of the 14th state remains undisclosed.
Officials said more cases were likely to be detected because it takes three to four weeks to determine whether a sick person is part of an outbreak.
Most people infected with salmonella suffer from diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps that resolve without treatment within four to seven days.
Young children, older adults, and individuals with underlying health conditions are particularly vulnerable due to their compromised immune systems.
In serious cases, the bacteria can spread from the intestines into the blood, where it causes sepsis, a potentially life-threatening complication.
The eggs were distributed in California and Nevada between June 16 and July 9, and carry the code CA 7695 on their packaging. It is not clear how many are being recalled.
The source of the outbreak has not been determined, but in previous cases it has been linked to chickens infected with salmonella passing the bacteria on to their eggs internally before they are laid.
The above picture shows one of the recalled egg brands linked to the outbreak
The above shows another brand of eggs that has been recalled due to the outbreak
Eggs can also become infected with salmonella via contact with droppings that contain the bacteria.
It is possible to eradicate salmonella in infected eggs, but only if these are cooked to 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius).
A spokesperson for Country Eggs said in a release: ‘Ensuring the safety and quality of the eggs we supply to our customers is our responsibility and our focus each day.
‘We know this is concerning, and supporting you through this process is our priority.
‘We apologize for the disruption this situation creates in your business. We are committed to addressing this matter fully and to implementing all necessary corrective actions to ensure this does not happen again.’
Salmonella are a leading cause of illness or death from food in the US, sickening about 1.35million Americans every year according to estimates.
Of these, 26,500 are hospitalized and 420 die each year.
People can catch salmonella after eating contaminated food, drinking fluids laced with the bacteria or touching the droppings of infected animals.
The above map shows the locations where cases linked to the outbreak have been detected
The above shows a timeline of patients, with the first illness recorded on January 7 this year
Humans can catch salmonella from other humans via touching surfaces that have been contaminated with the feces of a sick patient.
Symptoms are triggered within six hours to six days of infection, with patients told to call their doctor if diarrhea or vomiting lasts more than two days, if they notice blood in their urine or feces, develop a high fever or show signs of dehydration.
Infections are treated using fluids to keep patients hydrated. In serious cases, individuals may also be prescribed antibiotics.
