Happy Hens egg farm is voluntarily recalling some of its organic eggs due to concerns of potential salmonella contamination. The recall was initiated on September 8, following an outbreak that sickened 23 individuals in San Diego between June 21 and August 16.
The California Department of Public Health has been notified and is advising consumers to discard any Happy Hens organic eggs they may have in their refrigerators or return them to the place of purchase. The recalled eggs have sell-by dates of September 10, September 13, and September 24. The products were sold in various sizes, including dozen- and 18-count cartons, 20- and 30-count flats, and 15-dozen cases for foodservice customers.
An investigation by the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency traced the outbreak to the farm. While the farm's co-owner initially stated on August 17 that there was no evidence connecting the farm's eggs to the illnesses, subsequent testing detected salmonella at the facility. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspected Happy Hens between August 17 and August 20, with two samples from the poultry housing testing positive for Salmonella Enteritidis, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Health officials have linked the outbreak to the consumption of Happy Hens eggs or foods prepared with them, including mayonnaise made by a local market using the farm's raw eggs. The San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality has contacted retail food facilities that may have received eggs from Happy Hens.
Consumers who have handled the recalled eggs are advised to thoroughly clean and sanitize any surfaces or utensils that may have come into contact with them. This includes washing dishwasher-safe items in a dishwasher and cleaning other surfaces with hot, soapy water.
Salmonella infection symptoms typically appear six hours to six days after exposure and can include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. While most cases resolve within four to seven days without treatment, severe illness can require hospitalization. Individuals younger than 5, those 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for severe illness. Anyone experiencing symptoms within seven days of consuming the affected products should seek medical attention.
The California Department of Public Health, local health departments, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and the FDA are continuing their investigation into the salmonella cases.