Investigation Update: Salmonella Outbreak, Eggs, June 2025

Key points

CDC, FDA, and public health officials in several states are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to eggs. If you have any of these recalled products in your home or business, throw them out or return them to the store.

Image of 4 egg cartons from 4 of the recalled brands.

June 6, 2025

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 eggs distributed by August Egg Company may be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis and may be making people sick.

Epidemiologic Data

As of June 5, 2025, a total of 79 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from 7 states. Six sick people reported traveling to California or Nevada in the week before they got sick. Illnesses started on dates ranging from February 24, 2025 to May 17, 2025. Of the 61 people with information available, 21 have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

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. 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.

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).

Demographics

Information

Age

(n=79)

Range from 1 to 90 years

Median age of 48

Sex

(n=79)

59% female

41% male

Race

(n=42)

94% White

2% African American/Black

2% Asian

2% reported more than one race

Ethnicity

(n=53)

74% non-Hispanic

26% Hispanic

State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 30 people interviewed, 27 (90%) reported eating eggs. State health officials identified illness sub-clusters at two restaurants. An illness sub-cluster is a group of unrelated sick people who all ate at the same location or event, such as a restaurant. Investigating sub-clusters can help identify a food item eaten by all the sick people that could be the source of the outbreak. Eggs were served at both sub-cluster locations.

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.

FDA conducted an inspection at August Egg Company's processing facility and collected samples for testing. Some samples tested positive for Salmonella. WGS showed that the Salmonella in the samples are closely related to Salmonella from sick people.

Based on WGS analysis, bacteria from 79 people's samples predicted resistance to nalidixic acid and nonsusceptibility to ciprofloxacin (NSC); this NSC strain is related to a strain of Salmonella Enteritidis isolated from chicken, eggs, and backyard poultry. One person's samples also predicted an additional resistance to ampicillin and streptomycin. Most people with Salmonella illness recover without antibiotics. However, if antibiotics are 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.

People reported buying many different brands of eggs from multiple stores. FDA conducted a traceback investigation based on where the ill people reported shopping or eating during the timeframe of interest, and August Egg Company was identified as a common supplier of eggs.

Ill people in Kentucky, New Jersey, and Washington reported traveling to California and Nevada before they got sick.

Public Health Actions

On June 6, 2025, August Egg Company recalled eggs. CDC is advising people not eat, sell, or serve recalled eggs.