(NEXSTAR) – A recall affecting nearly 1.6 million cartons of eggs has been assigned to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's most serious risk category.

The recall, which was initiated over concerns of potential salmonella enteritidis contamination, was categorized on Wednesday by the FDA as "Class I," indicating "a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death."

The new Class I designation was included in the agency's enforcement report for the existing recall.

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The FDA has explained, however, that it often categorizes a recall well after the initiating firm makes the recall announcement, so it should not necessarily be viewed "as an expansion or change" to the firm's initial recall.

"Firms often initiate voluntary recalls and provide public statements or notifications as part of their commitment to protecting consumers, which may occur well before the FDA completes its classification process and subsequently posts to this report," the FDA said.

Midwest Poultry Services, of North Manchester, Indiana, first initiated its egg recall in July, announcing that 1,589,577 cartons of eggs (including white eggs and brown cage-free eggs) "have the potential to be contaminated" with the salmonella enteritidis bacterium. They were produced between June 6 and July 3 of this year and bear sell-by or best-by dates between July 20, 2026, and August 17, 2026.

The eggs were produced in Texas but shipped to multiple locations throughout the South and Southwest, including foodservice retail outlets in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.  

Among the outlets where the eggs were available were Kroger stores in Texas and Louisiana; Brookshire Grocery stores in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Mississippi, "and other smaller retail outlets," according to the initial recall alert.

The exact egg products that have been recalled are listed in Wednesday's enforcement report. Midwest Poultry Services previously urged consumers not to eat the eggs but to return them to the place of purchase for a refund.

No illnesses had been reported in connection with the recalled eggs as of late July.

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Symptoms of salmonella infection often begin to show between six hours and six days after swallowing the bacteria, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Diarrhea, fever, vomiting and stomach cramps are common.

Those who believe they were infected are urged to contact a healthcare provider, especially if they are among the most vulnerable groups, or if symptoms worsen to include: bloody diarrhea (or diarrhea that lasts for more than two days); fever of over 102 degrees F; frequent vomiting that prevents the ingestion of liquids; and any sign of dehydration.

More severe illness linked to salmonella can include arterial infections, endocarditis (an infection in the heart), and arthritis. The infection is also blamed for 1.35 million illnesses and 420 deaths in the U.S. annually, according to the FDA.

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