Authorities on alert per outbreak of salmonella in 9 states
The FDA recently recalled 1.7 million eggs linked to a surge in salmonella infections in several states
Health authorities warned of a salmonella outbreak in nine states due to a case linked to brown eggs from free-range hens and certified organic brown eggs.
Following this report, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered the recall of 1.7 million eggs marketed by the August Egg Company from stores in California, Nevada, Washington, Arizona, Nebraska, New Mexico, Illinois, Indiana, and Wyoming.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the infection affected 71 people, 21 of whom were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported so far.
This is the second major salmonella outbreak to occur in the United States during 2025, following the spike in cases reported between April 2 and May 10, 2025, caused by cucumbers distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc., which were also recalled by the FDA.
Salmonella outbreaks, a public health problem
Salmonellosis, an infection caused by salmonella (a bacillus-like bacteria that generally lives in the intestines of humans and animals) represents a significant public health concern in the United States. According to CDC estimates, salmonella is responsible for approximately 1.28 million cases of foodborne illness, 12,500 hospitalizations, and 238 deaths annually in the country, according to 2019 data.
The most common way salmonella bacteria spreads is through the consumption of contaminated food, although it can also be transmitted through water, contact with animals, or from person to person.
One particularity of salmonella, experts warn, is its ability to contaminate food without altering its appearance, smell, or taste, making it an invisible threat to consumers, which once infected can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Certain groups of the population, including young children,Older adults and people with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to this illness.
Take these steps to prevent a salmonella infection.
Faced with the increase in salmonella cases, here are some recommendations issued by specialists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization to prevent infection.