Packaged hard-boiled eggs are being blamed for a deadly, multi-state outbreak of Listeria infections. Retailers and consumers are being warned not to serve, consume, or sell the affected products in stores, restaurants, and homes.
Seven people have reported Listeria infections, with four of them needing hospitalization. One death has been reported in Texas. The cases are nationwide, occurring in Floria, Maine, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina from April 2017 to November 12, 2019.
The products in question were originally packaged in plastic pails by Almark Foods in Gainesville, Georgia. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating the issue. They believe the affected products have been distributed nationwide to foodservice operators, impacting both stores and restaurants.
Though packaged hard-boiled eggs have not been recalled yet, the CDC released a nationwide alert. Almark Foods’ hard-boiled eggs that were sold directly to consumers are not a part of the alert.
The CDC wrote, “Retailers and food service operators should know who supplies their bulk hard-boiled eggs. Consumers will not be able to tell if products they’ve purchased from stores contain these eggs.”
Consumers are advised to take extra precautions if they are at high-risk for Listeria infection, including pregnant women, newborns, those aged over 65, and people with weakened immune systems. Any store-bought, hard-boiled eggs should be thrown out, regardless of the use-by date. If you were storing any store-bought hard-boiled eggs, you should deep clean any surface that came into contact with them.
Check out recent stories about Listeria outbreaks and related recalls:
- RECALL: Possible Listeria Contamination in Chicken Products
- Vegetable products in the US and Canada
- RECALL: 2 Million Pounds of Chicken
Hard-Boiled Eggs Listeria — Sources:
CNN: Packaged hard-boiled eggs have been liked to a deadly Listeria outbreak, the CDC warns
Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Outbreak of Listeria Infections Linked to Hard-boiled Eggs
