Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Eggs Sickens 95 People

Eat|Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Eggs Sickens 95 People

A salmonella outbreak linked to eggs has sickened 95 people across 14 states, federal health officials said on Thursday. Eighteen people have been hospitalized.

The company Country Eggs, of Lucerne Valley, Calif., has issued a recall of its large brown cage free “sunshine yolks” and “omega-3 golden yolks” eggs, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

The recalled eggs were sold in grocery stores and delivered to food service distributors in California and Nevada between June 16 and July 9 and have sell-by dates between July 1 and Sept. 18. The recalled cartons were also sold under the brand names Nagatoshi Produce, Misuho and Nijiya Markets.

Most of the people who have become ill so far — 73 of the 95 — are from California, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But infections have been reported in 13 other states across the country, including in Washington State, Minnesota, New York and Pennsylvania. No one has died.

The case numbers are likely to rise, however, said Matthew Moore, an associate professor in the department of food science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Many people don’t go to the doctor when they get food poisoning, he said. And when they do, they won’t necessarily be tested for the bacteria. This is likely “just the tip of the iceberg,” Dr. Moore said.

Only about one in 30 salmonella infections are diagnosed, according to the C.D.C.

A Potentially Serious Infection

Salmonella is a leading cause of food poisoning-related deaths in the country, and typically results in diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps that begin within six hours to six days of swallowing the bacteria. Symptoms usually clear on their own within four to seven days.