7-Eleven Egg Recall Lawsuit | 2026 Latest Updates

Almark Foods recalled hard-boiled and hard-cooked eggs made at its Gainesville, Georgia plant. The eggs were linked to a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. Almark sold the eggs under dozens of brand names, among them 7-Eleven’s 7 Select. Almark first recalled the eggs on December 20, 2019, then expanded the recall on December 23, 2019 to cover its entire line of hard-boiled egg products made there. The eggs were sold nationwide at retail stores and to food-service customers. Anyone who still has one of the recalled eggs at home, or at a store or restaurant, should throw it away. This outbreak investigation is over, closed by the CDC on March 4, 2020.

Latest 7-Eleven Eggs Recall Updates

March 4, 2020: CDC Closes the Outbreak Investigation

The CDC announced that this outbreak investigation was over [1]. Its final count: eight illnesses in five states, five hospitalizations, and one death in Texas. One newborn was infected while the mother was pregnant and survived. Recalled eggs were long past their printed shelf life by that point. The CDC still told anyone with old stock in a freezer to throw it away rather than eat it.

December 27, 2019: Environmental Sample Matches the Outbreak Strain

CDC and FDA reported on an environmental sample taken during a December 2019 inspection of Almark’s Gainesville facility. It was genetically closely related to the outbreak strain found in ill people [2]. Investigators said they were still working to confirm exactly how the bacteria reached the plant’s egg products. The products were later packaged and shipped to stores and restaurants nationwide.

December 23, 2019: Almark Foods Expands the Recall to All Gainesville Products

Almark Foods expanded its recall on December 23, 2019 to cover every hard-boiled egg product from its Gainesville plant [3]. The expanded action covered retail and food-service items nationwide under the same brands, including 7-Eleven‘s 7 Select. The expanded recall also covered the same G-coded products, described below. This applied whether the eggs were sold at retail stores or to food-service buyers.

December 20, 2019: Almark Foods Recalls Hard-Cooked Eggs in Pails

Almark Foods first recalled hard-cooked eggs in plastic pails on December 20, 2019. FDA testing had found Listeria monocytogenes at its Gainesville, Georgia facility [4]. The pails had gone to food-service companies in 11 states. FDA had notified the company two days earlier that its eggs might be tied to an outbreak investigation. The probe already involved several states and at least one death.

December 18, 2019: FDA Links Hard-Boiled Eggs to a Listeria Outbreak

The FDA told Almark Foods that its hard-boiled eggs in pails might be linked to a Listeria outbreak. By that point, the CDC had already counted seven illnesses in five states. Four illnesses had led to hospitalization, and one had led to death in Texas, Newsweek reported [5]. A newborn was also reported infected while the mother was pregnant and survived.

What Is Listeria?

Listeria infection is caused by eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria [6]. The bacteria grow in refrigerators, so cooked food can become contaminated after leaving a plant, a 2018 study found [7]. The infection, called listeriosis, can be very serious for pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Most healthy people recover on their own. Severe cases need antibiotics.

Which 7-Eleven Eggs Are Affected?

Almark Foods sold its hard-boiled and hard-cooked eggs under more than 30 brand names, including 7-Eleven’s 7 Select. The company’s Gainesville, Georgia plant made every hard-boiled egg product it sells, and the recall covered all of them. Every affected package carries a “Best If Used By” code that starts with the letter G, not N or Y. That code is valid only through March 2, 2020. The recalled forms include:

• Pails: Hard-cooked, peeled eggs in 20-, 23-, and 25-pound plastic pails sold to food-service companies
• Pillow packs and pouch packs: Individually packaged hard-boiled eggs for retail and food-service sale
• Frozen diced egg: Diced hard-boiled egg product sold to food-service buyers
• Protein kits: Retail snack kits that include a hard-boiled egg; check the code on the egg package inside the kit
• Retail salads and other prepared foods: Store-bought items made with the recalled eggs, including 7-Eleven’s 7 Select 2 Count Hard-Cooked Eggs

Why Were the 7-Eleven Eggs Recalled?

The 7-Eleven Eggs were recalled after the FDA linked Almark Foods’ Gainesville, Georgia plant to a multistate Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. The FDA’s December 18 notice to Almark, described above, first tied the company’s hard-boiled eggs in pails to the outbreak investigation. A later FDA sample from the plant matched the outbreak strain. A December 2019 environmental sample was also genetically related to bacteria from sick people. Investigators were still confirming that source, as detailed above. The December 23 expansion, described above, is where the FDA and Almark agreed on a wider risk. Any hard-boiled egg made at the Gainesville plant could carry the same risk, whatever brand it was sold under.

Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses

The CDC’s investigation linked eight illnesses in five states to this outbreak. Five of those illnesses required hospitalization, one person died in Texas, and the newborn case is detailed in the timeline above. These are reported and investigated numbers, not proof that every illness came from a 7-Eleven product. Almark’s eggs were sold under many other brand names. Investigators traced the outbreak to the plant itself rather than any single retailer. Listeriosis is dangerous for a foodborne illness. The same 2018 study found that Listeria infections in the U.S. carry a hospitalization rate above 95 percent and a death rate of 15 to 20 percent.

What Should Consumers Do?

Anyone who still has one of these egg products at home, or works at a store or restaurant that carried them, should take these steps:

1. Check any hard-boiled or hard-cooked egg product for the printed code described above.
2. Do not eat any product carrying that code, even if it looks and smells normal.
3. Throw the product away, or return it to the store where it was purchased.
4. Call Almark Foods’ Customer Helpline at (877) 546-0454, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST, with questions about a specific product.
5. Report a reaction directly to the FDA if you believe you were harmed by the product.
6. Watch for Listeria symptoms – fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, or confusion – for several weeks after eating the product. Call a healthcare provider right away if they appear.

Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions

A different company, 7-Eleven Canada Inc., recalled sandwiches, subs, and wraps in Canada starting April 14, 2026. The recall included an egg salad sandwich. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency flagged possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination [8]. The agency said the recall was triggered by the company and reported no illnesses. This is separate from the 2019-2020 Almark Foods outbreak. For more detail on the original recall, see the Almark Foods egg recall page.

Legal Options

A recall does not automatically prove that a company is legally liable for anyone’s illness. No lawsuit, class action, or settlement tied specifically to this 2019-2020 outbreak has been confirmed. Schmidt & Clark reviews potential claims from people who became seriously ill after eating a recalled food product, including Listeria cases. The firm’s food poisoning lawsuit page has general information about that process.

Filing Deadlines

Deadlines for filing a legal claim are set by state law. They vary with where a person lives and when the illness and its diagnosis happened. Missing one of these deadlines can end a claim completely, even one backed by strong medical and purchase records. Acting quickly matters. Anyone who believes recalled eggs made them sick should speak with a lawyer promptly. A lawyer can explain what options remain.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Symptoms of Listeria Infection?

The symptoms of Listeria infection include fever, muscle aches, nausea, and diarrhea in most people. In severe cases, symptoms can include headache, stiff neck, confusion, or convulsions. Pregnant women often have only mild symptoms but face a higher risk of miscarriage or a seriously ill newborn.

Who Is Most at Risk from Listeria in Recalled Eggs?

The people most at risk from Listeria in recalled eggs are pregnant women, newborns, and adults age 65 or older. People with weakened immune systems are also at risk. Healthy adults outside these groups can still get sick, but usually have milder symptoms and a lower risk of serious illness.

How Soon Can Listeria Symptoms Start After Eating Contaminated Eggs?

Listeria symptoms can start anywhere from one to four weeks after eating contaminated eggs, according to the CDC. The exact timing varies by person. A few people have reported symptoms the same day they ate the food, and others not until roughly ten weeks later.

How Do I Report a Reaction to the FDA?

To report a reaction, use the FDA’s MedWatch adverse-event program. It takes reports from consumers and healthcare providers online or by phone. You can still file a report even though the CDC closed this outbreak investigation on March 4, 2020.

Can I Still File a Lawsuit over the 7-Eleven Egg Recall?

You can still pursue a claim over the 7-Eleven egg recall if you had a confirmed Listeria diagnosis. It must be tied to a “G”-coded Almark egg recalled between December 2019 and March 2020. No lawsuit has been filed yet, so a lawyer would evaluate your case.

Which States Received the Initially Recalled 7-Eleven Egg Pails?

The 7-Eleven egg pails initially recalled in December 2019 went to food-service companies in Georgia, California, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. They also went to food-service companies in Iowa, Missouri, Alabama, Florida, and Arizona. Almark Foods later expanded the recall nationwide to cover all its retail and food-service brands.

References

1. https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/listeria/outbreaks/eggs-12-19/index.html
2. https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/listeria/outbreaks/eggs-12-19/updates.html
3. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/almark-foods-expanded-recall-all-products-its-georgia-facility-due-possible-listeria-monocytogenes
4. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/almark-foods-recalls-hard-cooked-egg-products-pails-due-possible-listeria-monocytogenes
5. https://www.newsweek.com/hardboiled-eggs-deadly-listeria-outbreak-cdc-1478232
6. https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/about/index.html
7. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6989189/
8. https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/7-eleven-brand-sandwiches-subs-and-wraps-recalled-due-listeria-monocytogenes