Key points
This outbreak is over. CDC, FDA, and public health officials in several states investigated a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to shell eggs. Recalled eggs are past their expiration. Learn what you can do to protect yourself from getting sick from Salmonella.
Final update – September 3, 2026
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.
Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback data showed that shell eggs produced and distributed by Midwest Poultry Services, L.P. were contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis and made people sick in this outbreak.
As of September 3, 2026, this outbreak is over.
Epidemiologic data
Cases
134
18
34 (35%)
Illnesses started on dates ranging from November 21, 2025, to August 12, 2026. The true number of sick people in this outbreak was likely much higher than the number reported, and this outbreak may not have been limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella.
Demographics
Public health officials collected many different types of information from sick people, including their age, race, ethnicity, other demographics, and the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. This information provided clues to help investigators identify the source of the outbreak.
The table below has information about sick people in this outbreak (“n” is the number of people with information available for each demographic).
Age
(n=134)
Range from less than one to 86 years
Median age of 42
Sex
(n=132)
53% female
47% male
Race
(n=104)
85% White
11% African American/Black
4% Asian
Ethnicity
(n=99)
65% non-Hispanic
35% Hispanic
State and local public health officials interviewed people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 54 people interviewed, 46 (85%) reported eating shell eggs.
Laboratory and traceback data
Public health investigators used the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that may be part of this outbreak. CDC PulseNet manages a national database of DNA fingerprints of bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses. DNA fingerprinting is performed on bacteria using a method called whole genome sequencing (WGS).
WGS showed that bacteria from sick people's samples are closely related genetically. This suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from the same food.
Based on WGS analysis, bacteria from 134 people's samples predicted nonsusceptibility to ciprofloxacin and resistance to nalidixic acid; this strain is related to a strain of Salmonella Enteritidis isolated from chicken, eggs, and backyard poultry.
Most people with Salmonella illness recover without antibiotics. However, if antibiotics were needed, some illnesses in this outbreak may not have been treatable with some commonly recommended antibiotics and may have required a different antibiotic choice. More information is available at the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) site.
As part of this investigation, FDA conducted a traceback investigation based on where sick people reported purchasing or eating eggs during the timeframe of interest. FDA identified Midwest Poultry Services, L.P as a common egg source for some cases.
Midwest Poultry Services, L.P. collected samples at farms in Texas. Samples collected by the firm tested positive for Salmonella, and whole genome sequencing performed by the firm's third-party lab revealed that samples match the strain of Salmonella in this outbreak.
As part of the investigation, FDA conducted an inspection at Midwest Poultry Services, L.P. in Texas and collected environmental samples. Three samples were positive for the outbreak strain of Salmonella by whole genome sequencing.
Previous updates
CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)are collecting different types of data to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections.
Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback data show that shell eggs produced and distributed by Midwest Poultry Services, L.P. may be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis and may be making people sick.
Epidemiologic data
Cases
Illnesses started on dates ranging from November 21, 2025, to June 30, 2026. The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and this outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.
Total cases
98 (as of July 24, 2026)
States
17
Hospitalizations
26 (36%) of 72 people with information available
Deaths
Demographics
Public health officials collect many different types of information from sick people, including their age, race, ethnicity, other demographics, and the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. This information provides clues to help investigators identify the source of the outbreak.
The table below has information about sick people in this outbreak ("n" is the number of people with information available for each demographic).
Age
(n=98)
Range from less than one to 81 years
Median age of 48
Sex
(n=96)
54% female
46% male
Race
(n=82)
84% White
12% African American/Black
4% Asian
Ethnicity
(n=80)
65% non-Hispanic
35% Hispanic
State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 44 people interviewed, 40 (91%) reported eating shell eggs.
Laboratory and traceback data
Public health investigators are using the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that may be part of this outbreak. CDC PulseNet manages a national database of DNA fingerprints of bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses. DNA fingerprinting is performed on bacteria using a method called whole genome sequencing (WGS).
WGS showed that bacteria from sick people's samples are closely related genetically. This suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from the same food.
Based on WGS analysis, bacteria from 98 people's samples predicted nonsusceptibility to ciprofloxacin and resistance to nalidixic acid; this strain is related to a strain of Salmonella Enteritidis isolated from chicken, eggs, and backyard poultry.
Most people with Salmonella illness recover without antibiotics. However, if antibiotics were needed, some illnesses in this outbreak may not be treatable with some commonly recommended antibiotics and may require a different antibiotic choice. More information is available at the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) site.
As part of this investigation, FDA conducted a traceback investigation based on where sick people reported purchasing or eating eggs during the timeframe of interest, and Midwest Poultry Services, L.P was identified as a common egg source for some cases. Additional investigation is ongoing to determine if there are other sources of illness.
Additionally, Midwest Poultry Services, L.P. collected samples at farms in Texas. Samples collected by the firm tested positive for Salmonella, and WGS performed by the firm's third-party lab revealed that samples match the strain of Salmonella in this outbreak.
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