The US Food and Drug Administration has elevated a recall of nearly 1.6 million dozen white and brown cage-free eggs to its highest-risk warning. Midwest Poultry Services voluntarily recalled the eggs due to potential contamination with salmonella enteritidis.
The heightened risk classification comes as health officials investigate a multistate outbreak that has sickened nearly 100 people. Regulators warn that exposure to the contaminated products could cause severe illness, noting a reasonable probability of serious adverse health consequences or death.
The FDA reclassified the recall on August 12. This action follows a separate incident in July, during which nearly 20 million eggs were recalled over salmonella concerns.