CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to hard-boiled eggs.
CDC is concerned that bulk, fresh hard-boiled eggs produced by Almark Foods of Gainesville, Georgia, are contaminated with Listeria and have made people sick. These products were packaged in plastic pails for use nationwide by foodservice operators. These products have not been recalled. However, because Listeria can cause severe infections, the CDC is warning against selling, serving, or using these eggs to make other food products.
- Retailers and foodservice operators should not use bulk hard-boiled eggs produced at the Almark Foods Gainesville, Georgia facility, regardless of the use-by date.
- These eggs were peeled, hard-boiled, and packaged in plastic pails of various sizes.
- Food processors and manufacturers should not use these eggs to make ready-to-eat foods, such as egg salad, deviled eggs, or salads.
- These fresh hard-boiled eggs were packaged in plastic pails and have a 49-day shelf-life.
Until we learn more, CDC advises that people at higher risk for Listeria infection throw away any store-bought hard-boiled eggs or products containing hard-boiled eggs, such as egg salad.
- If you have these products at home, don’t eat them. Throw them away, regardless of where you bought them or the use-by date.
If you buy products with hard-boiled eggs or order or eat items with hard-boiled eggs at a restaurant:
- Before you buy, order, or eat, confirm with the store or restaurant that they do not use hard-boiled eggs produced by Almark Foods.
- If they use hard-boiled eggs produced by Almark Foods, don’t buy or order the product.
- If they don’t know where their hard-boiled eggs are from, don’t buy or order the product.
