The FDA has raised Costco’s egg recall to its highest risk level over salmonella fears.
On November 27, Handsome Brook Farms issued a withdrawal notice of 10,800 units of 24-unit pasture-raised organic eggs sold under the Kirkland Signature brand.
The eggs were sold at 25 Costco stores in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee as of Nov. 22.
New York-based manufacturer Handsome Brook Farms said the eggs were not intended for sale but were somehow packaged and distributed “in error.”
The FDA has updated the recall as ‘Class I’ as the eggs ‘have the potential to be contaminated with salmonella bacteria, which hospitalizes 26,000 Americans each year.
A ‘Class I’ recall is a ‘situation in which there is a reasonable probability that use of or exposure to an infringing product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.’
The FDA says salmonella “can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and other people with weakened immune systems.”
Healthy people infected with the bacteria often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
On Nov. 27, Handsome Brook Farms issued a recall notice for 10,800 units of 24-count organic pasture-raised eggs sold under the Kirkland Signature brand.
In rare circumstances, the FDA says salmonella can cause the organism to “enter the bloodstream and cause more serious illness.”
This could trigger serious and life-threatening conditions, such as infected arteries, inflammation of the inner lining of the heart, and a type of arthritis called reactive arthritis.
The affected 24-unit organic pasture-raised eggs have UPC number 9661910680 and are packaged in plastic egg cartons labeled with Kirkland Signature on the top.
The recall only applies to products with the code 327 and an expiration date of January 5, 2025, which can be found printed on the side of the plastic egg carton.
This recall does not affect any other products.
It is unknown why the eggs were not intended for sale, and the FDA is not confirming whether they tested positive for the bacteria.
Shauna Grob, head of operations and finance at Handsome Brook Farms, said news week when the egg recall was initially announced: ‘No illness has been reported.
“We have received several calls from consumers to confirm whether the units in their possession could be removed, but that has been the only interaction we have had with consumers so far since we published the press release and consumer notice of “Costco.”
The 24-count organic pasture-raised eggs with UPC number 9661910680 are packaged in plastic egg cartons labeled with the Kirkland signature on the top.
The recall only applies to products with the Julian code 327 and an expiration date of January 5, 2025, which can be found printed on the side of the plastic egg carton. This recall does not affect any other products.
To prevent the incident from happening again, the company has implemented additional supply chain controls and retraining.
So far no illnesses have been reported.
Consumers who have the product recalled should not eat the eggs and return them to the place of purchase.
While thoroughly cooking eggs is the most effective way to prevent salmonella poisoning, the FDA says the recalled eggs should not be used for cooking or baking.
If you have any additional questions, customers are encouraged to contact Handsome Brook Farms.
Salmonella is caused by eating food contaminated with animal feces.
It typically causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps that begin between six hours and six days after initial infection, according to the CDC.
Most people recover within days, although the disease is responsible for more than 26,000 hospitalizations and 400 deaths a year.