FDA expands egg recall, upgrades to Class I amid salmonella risk

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded its recall of Black Sheep Egg Company products, upgrading it to a Class I health risk after discovering salmonella at the firm’s processing facility.

The recall applies to the company’s 12- and 18-count cartons with best-by dates ranging from 22 August to 31 October 2025.

The FDA also noted that Black Sheep distributed eggs to other companies in Arkansas and Missouri between 9 July and 17 September 2025, and some of those products may have been repackaged before sale.

No reported illnesses have emerged yet.

Upgraded to Class I recall

On Tuesday, the FDA confirmed that both the scope and seriousness of the recall had been elevated to Class I. This designation is the highest risk category, defined by the FDA as “a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”

Inspection finds multiple salmonella strains

The FDA escalated the recall following an inspection of Black Sheep Egg Company’s facility, which began on 29 September. Investigators reported that 40 environmental samples tested positive for salmonella, including seven different strains, some of which are known to cause illness in humans.

While officials stressed there is currently no evidence linking the company’s eggs to an active outbreak, they warned that distribution may have reached beyond the named states. The FDA said it will add any further affected products to the recall advisory as new information becomes available.

The issue has already spread into the wider supply chain. Texas-based Kenz Henz has recalled its 12-count Grade AA Large Pasture Raised Eggs from Houston stores after confirming Black Sheep as its supplier. The affected cartons are marked with UPC code 86949400030, Julian dates 241–244 and 246–247, with best-by dates of 11–14 October and 16–17 October.

FDA advice and salmonella symptoms

The FDA is advising consumers not to eat the affected products. The agency also instructs them to thoroughly clean any utensils, surfaces and containers that came into contact with the recalled eggs, and recommends seeking medical care if severe symptoms develop.

Salmonella infection typically develops within 12 to 72 hours of consuming contaminated food and can last for up to a week. Most people recover without treatment, but the illness can be dangerous for children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.

Common symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and, in some cases, bloody diarrhoea.

This latest escalation follows a separate salmonella outbreak in August linked to another egg producer, which sickened at least 95 people across 14 states and led to 18 hospitalisations.