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Federal health agencies have initiated an investigation into a multistate outbreak of salmonella infections linked to eggs from a California producer. So far, the outbreak has resulted in 79 illnesses and 21 hospitalizations.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Friday that consumers should discard or return organic and cage-free brown eggs from the August Egg Company. These eggs were sold to retailers in nine states, including Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Washington, and Wyoming.

Eggs with sell-by dates ranging from March 4, 2025, to June 4, 2025, distributed in California and Nevada, have been identified as part of the recall. Some affected retail locations include Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raley's, Food 4 Less, and Ralphs. Walmart stores in California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, Indiana, and Illinois also received eggs with sell-by dates from March 4, 2025, to June 19, 2025.

This outbreak arrives following a tumultuous period in the egg market, as prices skyrocketed due to an avian flu outbreak in poultry stocks. In January, the price of a dozen large eggs soared to almost $5. However, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a 12.7% drop in egg prices in April, the largest monthly decline since 1984. The Department of Agriculture further confirmed in May that the cost of a dozen large white-shell eggs fell to an average of $3.30.

The Justice Department has also begun investigating whether egg producers have colluded to manipulate prices or restrict supply. Amanda Starbuck, lead author of the Food & Water Watch report, argued that corporate consolidation in the egg market might be exacerbating price spikes and contributing to the spread of avian flu.

US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins highlighted the recent decline in egg prices as evidence of President Donald Trump's economic policies. Rollins noted that the Trump administration had to import millions of eggs from Turkey and South Korea to help mitigate prices that had increased by 237% under the previous administration.