The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning that a recent outbreak of Listeria infections is linked to hard-boiled eggs. Seven infections have been reported in five states. Four hospitalizations have been reported with one death reported in Texas.

The CDC reports that it is concerned that bulk, fresh hard-boiled eggs produced by Almark Foods of Gainesville, Georgia, are contaminated with Listeria.

"These products were packaged in plastic pails for use nationwide by food service operators. These products have not been recalled. However, because Listeria can cause severe infections, CDC is warning against selling, serving, or using these eggs to make other food products," The CDC said.

The eggs in question are not for sale directly to the general public but are uses in foodservice and food processing. The CDC is recommending that retailers and foodservice operators not use bulk hard-boiled eggs produced at the Almark Foods Gainesville, Georgia facility, regardless of the use-by date. Also, the agency says that food processors and manufacturers should not use these eggs to make ready-to-eat foods, like egg salad, deviled eggs, or salads.

People who are at a higher risk for Listeria infection, such as pregnant women and their newborns, adults ages 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems, such as people with cancer or on dialysis should do the following:

  • 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.
  • Wash and sanitize drawers or shelves in refrigerators and freezers where the products were stored. Follow these five steps to clean your refrigerator.
  • If they don’t know where their hard-boiled eggs are from, don’t buy or order the product.

This advice does not include eggs hard-boiled at home or homemade products made with those eggs, such as egg salad or deviled eggs. It also does not include eggs hard-boiled by retailers or restaurants

This advice does not include Almark Foods hard-boiled eggs sold directly to consumers, or any other brands of hard-boiled eggs or products made with hard-boiled eggs.

SOURCE: CDC

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