Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Shell Eggs

For Everyone

Outbreak investigation summary

Data showed that shell eggs made people in this outbreak sick.

CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), investigated a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections. PulseNet identified this outbreak in April 2026.

Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback data showed that shell eggs produced and distributed by Midwest Poultry Services, L.P. were contaminated with Salmonella and made people sick in this outbreak. On July 22, 2026, Midwest Poultry Services, L.P. recalled more than 1.5 million dozen shell eggs due to possible Salmonella contamination.

This outbreak investigation was closed on September 3, 2026.

What you should do

Always follow the four steps to food safety to prevent getting sick from Salmonella.

Actions to take

  • Clean
     Wash your hands, utensils, and surfaces often. Rinse fruits and vegetables under running water before eating, cutting, or peeling.
  • Separate
    Keep food that won't be cooked separate from raw meat, poultry, and seafood.
  • Cook
    Use a food thermometer to make sure you have cooked your food to a temperature high enough to kill germs.
  • Chill
    Refrigerate perishable food (food that goes bad) within 2 hours. If the food is exposed to temperatures above 90°F (like a hot car or picnic), refrigerate it within 1 hour. Thaw food in the refrigerator, not on the counter.

Symptoms of Salmonella

  • Most people infected with Salmonella experience diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.
  • Some people—especially children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems—may experience more severe illnesses that require medical treatment or hospitalization.

Read more

For more information about Salmonella, see the About Salmonella Infection page.
Content Source
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)
About This Page
Published: July 24, 2026
Updated: September 3, 2026

This page was last updated on this date. Updates may include minor edits, image changes, or other modifications to page content.

Reviewed: September 3, 2026

The information on this page was last reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy.