**FDA Upgrades Egg Recall to Class I Due to Severe Salmonella Outbreak**

In late September, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) escalated an earlier egg recall warning, cautioning consumers about the potential for serious health issues and possible fatality if the recalled eggs are ingested. This update follows an initial recall announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on September 6, and marks the alert as a Class I recall, denoting a product that can lead to grave health consequences or death.

Initially, the recall linked 65 salmonella infections across nine U.S. states to eggs originated from Milo's Poultry Farms LLC in Bonduel, Wisconsin. Covering the period from May 23 to August 10, none of the reported cases resulted in death; however, 24 individuals required hospitalization, according to CDC data.

Milo's Poultry Farms has proactively recalled all eggs distributed from its facility, as confirmed by the FDA. The eggs in question were supplied to retailers and food service distributors in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan. USA TODAY reached out to Milo's Poultry Farms and Tony's Fresh Market for their responses.

Marisa Kutansky, spokesperson for Heritage Grocers Group, which owns Tony's Fresh Market, emphasized the company's commitment to customer safety. "We are fully cooperating with the FDA on their investigation and have taken immediate action by removing all affected products related to this recall from our shelves," she stated.

The recall affects all carton sizes with expiration dates up to and including October 12. Among the recalled products are duck eggs branded under Happy Quackers Farm, sold in 12-count cartons and packaged by Milo's Poultry Farms.

The CDC's investigation highlighted that the nine affected states reported the following case numbers linked to the outbreak. Of the 65 reported cases, patients ranged from 2 to 88 years old, with 56% female and 44% male. The racial breakdown indicated that 92% were White, 5% African American or Black, and 3% Asian.

Consumers, restaurants, and retailers in possession of the recalled eggs have been urged to follow specific guidance to ensure safety. According to the CDC, common symptoms of salmonella include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, which can develop between six hours and six days after infection and typically last four to seven days.

Particularly at risk are children under 5 years, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals, who may experience more severe health repercussions if infected with salmonella. The FDA's urgency in upgrading the recall underscores the importance of adhering to this alert to prevent further health risks.