Costco egg recall escalated amid salmonella concerns: FDA

(NewsNation) — The Food and Drug Administration has escalated its recent recall of eggs sold at Costco to its highest alert level, citing possible salmonella exposure.

In November, Costco recalled nearly 260,000 eggs sold under the Kirkland Signature brand in 25 stores nationwide. The eggs landed on shelves in Alabama, North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee starting Nov. 22, according to the company.

No illnesses were immediately reported. Handsome Brook Farms said the cartons included eggs that were “not intended for retail distribution.” There were concerns at the time that the eggs may have been contaminated with salmonella.

On Dec. 22, the FDA reclassified the recall as a Class I, meaning "there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to" the eggs "will cause serious adverse health consequences or death."

Shoppers should check to see whether their egg cartons have Julian code 327 printed on the side and have a use-by date of Jan. 5, 2025. If the eggs are included in the recall, throw them out or take them back to the store for a refund.

What are the symptoms of salmonella?

The CDC said most people infected with salmonella experience fever, diarrhea and stomach cramps, with symptoms starting six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria.

“Transmission usually occurs from eating contaminated foods (e.g., dairy, eggs, meat, raw produce); drinking contaminated water; or from contact with people who have a diarrheal illness,” the CDC said in its 2024 Yellow Book.

While most people recover without treatment after four to seven days, the CDC encouraged consumers to call their healthcare providers if they experienced severe salmonella symptoms.

Severe symptoms include: diarrhea and a fever higher than 102 degrees; diarrhea for more than three days that doesn’t improve; and bloody diarrhea. Other severe symptoms include prolonged vomiting and signs of dehydration, including infrequent urination, dry mouth and throat, and feeling dizzy when standing up.

Some people may be hospitalized if they have weakened immune systems, are children younger than 5 years old or are adults aged 65 and older.

The Associated Press and Nexstar author Trevor Myers contributed to this report.