Health officials in Wisconsin have issued a recall of eggs following a salmonella outbreak that has made 65 people sick across nine states. This outbreak is linked to a farm in Wisconsin.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, 42 of those infected are from Wisconsin, where it is believed the affected eggs were sold.
“The eggs were distributed in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan through various retail stores and food service suppliers,” the department explained. “The recall affects all types of eggs, including conventional, cage-free, organic, and non-GMO. This applies to all carton sizes and expiration dates found on containers that are labeled ‘Milo’s Poultry Farms’ or ‘Tony’s Fresh Market.’”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that this strain of salmonella has infected 65 individuals in nine states, resulting in 24 hospitalizations but no deaths reported as of Friday. The states involved are Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Virginia, Colorado, Utah, and California.
The egg recall has been initiated by Milo’s Poultry Farms LLC based in Bonduel, Wisconsin, according to the CDC.
The Wisconsin health department advises anyone who has purchased the recalled eggs not to eat or cook with them and to dispose of them immediately. They also cautioned restaurants against serving these eggs.
If someone has consumed the recalled eggs and is experiencing symptoms, they should contact a healthcare provider. Symptoms of salmonella infection include diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, and vomiting lasting several days, the statement noted.
In July, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced new measures aimed at reducing salmonella levels in poultry products. These measures include requiring poultry companies to maintain salmonella levels below a certain limit and to test for six particularly harmful strains of the bacteria—three found in turkey and three in chicken.
If any poultry products exceed the proposed safety standards or test positive for these strains, they could be removed from sale and subject to recall.
The CDC estimates that salmonella is responsible for approximately 1.35 million infections in the U.S. each year, predominantly linked to food, resulting in about 420 deaths. The Agriculture Department anticipates around 125,000 infections from chicken and 43,000 from turkey each year.
