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

An ongoing recall of Costco eggs over salmonella has been escalated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, who placed the recall in its most severe class in December 2024, about a month after the recall was initially issued.

The recall is now Class I, meaning that “there is a reasonable probability that use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death,” according to the Food Safety and Inspection Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Salmonella is a type of bacteria that can be deadly when consumed by certain populations, especially those who are immunocompromised, such as pregnant people and the elderly. Symptoms of a salmonella infection include diarrhea, vomiting, fever, stomach pain, nausea and more.

The Costco egg recall affects the Kirkland Signature brand, organic pasture-raised, 24-count, grade A, large eggs. The reason for the recall is that “eggs from a positive Salmonella environment were shipped into distribution to retail facilities,” 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 recurrence,” the statement read.

Which Costco eggs are recalled?

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

You can identify affected eggs with the following numbers printed on the cartons:

• UPC code 9661910680

• Use-by date of Jan. 5, 2025

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

If you have the 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?

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

• North Carolina

• South Carolina

What is salmonella?

Salmonella, a type of bacteria, is a leading cause of foodborne illness, hospitalizations and deaths in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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

This notice follows a separate massive egg recall in September and October, also over salmonella contamination concerns, involving another poultry farm.

It’s also the latest in a series of recent recalls in the U.S., including carrots, cucumbers, ground beef and more.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com

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