FDA Class I recall: brown shell eggs sold as Kroger's "Simple Truth" over possible Salmonella — 1,589,577 dozen on the record
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classified Grade A brown in-shell chicken eggs shipped by Midwest Poultry Services as Class I — its most serious category — for possible Salmonella Enteritidis. The recall covers Kroger's "Simple Truth" cage-free packs (medium 12-count; large 12, 18, and 24-count) plus a bulk configuration. The record lists 1,589,577 dozen as the total, distributed to six states.
Recall overview (primary data)
- ClassificationClass I (most serious)
- Product typeFood
- Recalling firmMIDWEST POULTRY SERVC C/O H & LELECTRIC
- ReasonPossible Salmonella Enteritidis
- DistributionArkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
- Recall initiated2026-07-22
Key points
- Recall number H-1229-2026; FDA Class I, the most serious category; status Ongoing.
- The product is Grade A brown in-shell chicken eggs, including Kroger's own "Simple Truth" cage-free packs (medium 12-count; large 12, 18, 24-count) and a bulk line.
- The reason is possible Salmonella Enteritidis.
- The record lists 1,589,577 dozen as the total (roughly 19 million eggs), distributed to Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
- Voluntary, firm-initiated. Initiated 2026-07-22; reported 2026-08-19. Keep refrigerated.
- Among the FDA recall records this site holds as of 2026-09-01, only food recalls ever close: 778 of 779 devices and all 288 drugs remain Ongoing.
1Why shell eggs and Salmonella Enteritidis go together
Salmonella has a very large number of serotypes, and Enteritidis is the one most closely associated with shell eggs. The reason lies in how it gets there. Most foodborne pathogens arrive on the surface of a food from outside contamination, but this serotype can infect the reproductive tract of the laying hen, so it can be present inside an egg that is intact and visibly clean from the moment it is laid.
That means a washed shell and the absence of cracks are not evidence of safety. It is why U.S. practice is to keep shell eggs refrigerated through distribution and to cook them thoroughly. The "Keep Refrigerated" instruction written into this record reflects that same premise.
2How to read "1,589,577 dozen"
The recorded quantity is 1,589,577 dozen, which works out to roughly 19 million eggs. The figure is labeled "total," however, and the same value appears on a separate record for white-shell eggs reported the same day (H-1230-2026). The number is therefore better read as the scale of the whole recall event than as the count for brown eggs alone.
What one recall number covers and how large the underlying event is are two different things.
3The retail brand and the producer are different names
Most of the affected product sits on the shelf under the name "Simple Truth." That is Kroger's own brand, and it does not match the name of the firm conducting the recall. Shoppers see only the retailer's brand; they rarely have any occasion to learn the producer's name. The practical key for checking a carton at home is the combination of the UPC printed on the pack with the size and count.
4Only food recalls ever close
Sorting the FDA recall records this site holds as of 2026-09-01 by product type and status, 778 of 779 devices and all 288 drugs remain Ongoing. Food, by contrast, carries 15 terminated and 10 completed among its 341.
| Product type | Ongoing | Terminated | Completed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devices | 778 | 0 | 1 |
| Drugs | 288 | 0 | 0 |
| Food | 316 | 15 | 10 |
Food carries a shelf life and leaves the market on its own, which makes an end easy to declare; a device stays in the field. Whether the status field ever moves is set by the nature of the product, not by the care taken over the recall.
Why it matters
Shell eggs do not lend themselves to tracing back through an ingredient chain, so a recall ultimately depends on consumers matching the product at home. When the eggs are sold under a retailer's private label, shoppers know only the retail name, which never matches the producer, so notices have to be built around brand, UPC, and size. And because a single event can be recorded under separate numbers for each shell color, anyone counting scale needs to keep record-level and event-level figures apart.
FAQ
Can a clean, intact egg still carry Salmonella?
Is 1,589,577 dozen the count for brown eggs only?
How do I check the eggs I have?
Sources (primary)
Source: openFDA (U.S. FDA, CC0 public domain). Data is provided as-is and must not be used for medical decisions. Verify the latest and exact details with the official FDA recall information. This site is not endorsed or certified by the U.S. FDA.
- FDA recall information (official)
- openFDA (data provider)
- Recall number: H-1229-2026