The operation began with Black Sheep in Arkansas and later expanded to include Kenz Henz of Santa Fe, Texas.
Earlier this month, Black Sheep recalled millions of 12- and 18-egg cartons of its Grade A and Grade AA free-range eggs after testing showed potential salmonella contamination. Kenz Henz then announced the recall of 12-egg cartons of Grade AA eggs, which contained repackaged Black Sheep eggs and were sold at Kroger and HEB stores in the Houston, Texas, area.
The affected packages have expiration dates between October 11 and 17, and officials fear many may still be in home refrigerators.
The FDA has not reported any illnesses yet, but it urges consumers not to eat affected eggs and to dispose of them or return them to stores for a refund.
Testing at the Black Sheep facility revealed the presence of seven strains of salmonella in 40 samples. It is not yet clear how the bacteria entered the facility, but in similar cases, contamination has been linked to the feces of chickens used in production, as the bacteria live in the intestines of chickens.
The FDA announced an updated recall on October 20, warning that additional products may be added soon. The affected Kenz Henz products bear UPC code 86949400030, typically found on a label at the bottom of the box.
It is not yet clear how many crates or eggs are included in the latest expansion, but Black Sheep's previous recall included four products sold in stores, as well as six larger products intended for restaurants and processing facilities. These include large and medium brown and white Grade AA eggs, packaged in large crates, open tubs, or on pallets.
"These products may have been distributed to other states, and additional products will be added to this warning as information becomes available," officials said.
Salmonella is a leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States, affecting approximately 1.35 million people annually and resulting in approximately 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Symptoms of infection typically appear within 8 to 72 hours and include diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Some cases may be asymptomatic. Symptoms typically last from a few days to a week, and most patients do not require medical attention. However, infants, young children, pregnant women, and the elderly are particularly at risk.
In severe cases, the bacteria may spread to the blood and affect other organs such as the brain, heart, or lungs, which can lead to serious complications, such as sepsis, requiring treatment with antibiotics.
