Costco egg recall may cause ‘serious’ illness or death, FDA says, as it increases risk level

An ongoing recall of Costco eggs due to salmonella has been intensified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which placed the recall in its most severe class in December 2024, approximately one month after the recall was initially issued.

The recall is now Class I, which means that “there is a reasonable likelihood that use of the product will result in serious and adverse health consequences or even death,” according to the Food Safety and Inspection Servicewhich is part of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Salmonella is a type of bacteria that can be fatal when consumed by certain populations, especially those who are immunocompromised, such as pregnant people and the elderly.

The Costco egg recall involves Kirkland Signature Brand, Large Pasture-Raised Organic Eggs, 24 Count, Grade A. The reason for the recall is that “eggs from a Salmonella positive environment were shipped for distribution to retail establishments,” according to the FDA.

Handsome Brook Farms issued the voluntary recall in late November “after the company determined that eggs not intended for retail distribution were instead packaged and distributed in retail packaging,” according to the recall notice.

“Additional supply chain controls and retraining are being put in place to prevent this from happening again,” the statement said.

Which Costco eggs are recalled?

The Costco egg recall covers Kirkland Signature brand, organic and pasture-raised, high grade A and sold in 24-count plastic cartons.

You can identify the eggs concerned by the following numbers printed on the cartons:

• Use-by date: January 5, 2025

The eggs included in the recall were sold at 25 Costco stores starting in late November, according to the FDA.

If you have eggs, don’t eat them. Return them to a local Costco store for a full refund or throw them away.

Where were the recalled Costco eggs sold?

Approximately 10,800 plastic cartons affected by the Costco organic egg recall were sent to stores in:

What is salmonella?

Salmonella, a type of bacteria, is a leading cause of foodborne illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The bacteria can cause serious and life-threatening infections in children, the frail or elderly, and those with weakened immune systems, the FDA warns. Symptoms in healthy people include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

This opinion follows a separate mass egg recall in September and October, also due to salmonella contamination problems, involving another poultry farm.

It is also the last in a series of recent recalls in the United Statesincluding carrots, cucumbers, ground beef and more.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com