Organic Eggs Recalled From Costco for Salmonella Risk

An image of the recalled Kirkland Signature Organic Pasture Raised 24-Count Eggs. Courtesy of the FDA

New York-based Handsome Brook Farms is pulling batches of eggs from the market following concerns the items could be contaminated with the salmonella bacteria.

The recall is applicable to “10,800 retail units of the Organic Pasture Raised 24-Count Eggs sold under the Kirkland Signature brand name,” said a Nov. 27 recall announcement published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The eggs are packaged in plastic cartons and come with UPC code 9661910680. Only units with a use-by date of Jan. 5, 2025, and Julian code of 327 are being withdrawn.

The eggs were sold in 25 Costco stores across five states—Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

Salmonella can cause “serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain,” the company said.

“In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.”

Handsome Brook Farms initiated the recall after some eggs that were kept out of distribution were found to have entered the supply chain.

The recall notice asked customers who had bought the eggs to avoid consuming them. The eggs should either be disposed of or returned to the Costco store for a full refund, it said.

Handsome Brook Farms says it has taken measures to prevent such errors from occurring again. At present, no illnesses linked to the recalled eggs have been reported. Customers with queries can contact the company at 646-733-4532, ext. 1.

There have been multiple recalls over salmonella concerns over the past months. In early September, Arizona-based Eagle Produce withdrew 224 cases of whole cantaloupe because of the issue.

The recall was issued after routine testing by the authorities in Michigan discovered the pathogen. The cantaloupes were also sold in five states—Missouri, Michigan, Virginia, Texas, and Ohio.

The same month, Wisconsin-based Milo’s Poultry Farms pulled out certain batches of eggs after worries of salmonella contamination.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the eggs were linked to a salmonella outbreak that resulted in 93 infections and 34 hospitalizations across 12 states.

Spread of the Infection

The CDC estimates that around 1.35 million people in the United States get infected with salmonella every year.

“Only 1 in every 30 Salmonella infections is diagnosed,” it says. “Why? Most people with food poisoning do not go to a doctor or have a patient sample submitted for laboratory testing.”

These bacteria live in the intestines of animals and humans. Infection among people occurs when they consume contaminated food or water, touch animals or animal excrement, or get in contact with contaminated water.

While salmonella can infect any person, some individuals are especially vulnerable, including children younger than 5, adults over 65, and those with weak immune systems.

Some of the typical symptoms of the infection include stomach cramps, watery diarrhea with blood or mucus, nausea, vomiting, headache, and loss of appetite.

The CDC advises people to get in touch with a doctor when vomiting or diarrhea lasts for more than two days, the fever hits a temperature higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit, there is blood in urine or stool, and if the person experiences dehydration.

“Signs of dehydration include little or no peeing, having very dark pee, being very thirsty, having a dry mouth or throat, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and crying without tears,” the agency said.

It asked people not to adopt a wait-and-watch approach if they see children showing dehydration symptoms.

“Dehydration can happen quickly in young children. Give children with diarrhea or vomiting extra fluids, such as Pedialyte or oral rehydration salts,” it said.

The FDA states that salmonella can spread from various kinds of foods, including meat, poultry, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, leafy greens, and nut butter.

If a person has used contaminated foods, they should wash the insides of the refrigerator and all utensils that came into contact with the items, the agency said.