Almark Foods Egg Recall | 2026 Latest Updates

Almark Foods recalled its hard-boiled and peeled eggs after officials tied them to an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infection. The company pulled egg pails sold to food-service buyers on December 20, 2019, then expanded the recall three days later.

The expanded recall reached every hard-boiled egg product Almark made at its Gainesville plant, sold nationwide under 30+ brand names. The outbreak sickened eight people in five states, sending five to the hospital, and it killed one person in Texas.

FDA says its investigation is complete and the recall is terminated. CDC has declared the outbreak over. Anyone with an affected carton should discard it or return it for a refund.

Latest Almark Foods Egg Recall Updates

September 17, 2021: FDA Terminates the Recall Entries

The Food and Drug Administration‘s enforcement records show the agency formally terminated the Almark Foods recall entries on this date [1]. Termination closes a recall administratively once a firm finishes corrective steps.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had already declared the outbreak over in March 2020. This later entry reflects paperwork closure rather than a new illness or a newly recalled product.

March 4, 2020: CDC and FDA Close the Outbreak Investigation

FDA’s outbreak page says its investigation is complete [2]. CDC’s final update reported a closed count that same day. Both agencies agreed the outbreak was officially over, closing the matter for good [3].

FDA said Almark Foods was no longer producing hard-boiled eggs at its Gainesville facility. All recalled cartons had already passed their “Best If Used By” dates, so investigators considered the risk resolved.

February 4, 2020: FDA Classifies the Recall as Class I

FDA’s enforcement data show the Almark Foods recall entries were classified Class I. That is the agency’s most serious category. That classification means officials found a reasonable probability the eggs could cause serious health problems or death.

The classification covered 29 separate recall numbers. FDA assigned them to the different branded product lines swept into the December 2019 recall.

January 2, 2020: FSIS Issues a Public Health Alert

The Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert on January 2, 2020. The alert covered ready-to-eat meat-and-egg kit products that contained the recalled Almark Foods eggs as an ingredient [4].

FSIS said no illnesses had been confirmed in those specific kit products. It urged customers who had purchased them to throw them away rather than eat them, out of caution.

December 23, 2019: Almark Foods Expands the Recall Nationwide

Almark Foods expanded its recall beyond the original food-service pails. The expanded recall covered every hard-boiled egg product made at its Gainesville, Georgia facility. That included any retailer or private label selling it [5].

The expansion reached retail pillow packs, pouch packs, frozen diced eggs and protein kits sold under more than 30 brand names. FDA said a newer facility sample again matched the outbreak strain.

December 20, 2019: Almark Foods Recalls Egg Pails Sold to Food Service

Almark Foods voluntarily recalled Hard-Boiled and Peeled Eggs packaged in white plastic pails on December 20, 2019 [6]. FDA had notified the company that the product might be linked to a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak.

The pails had gone to food-service companies in eleven states, sold mainly to further-processing plants and restaurant chain suppliers. Almark suspended production at the Gainesville plant to investigate the possible contamination.

What Is Listeria Monocytogenes?

Listeria monocytogenes is the bacterium behind listeriosis, according to the Mayo Clinic [7]. It is a foodborne illness. It can be serious for pregnant women, people older than 65 and anyone with a weakened immune system.

The bacteria live in soil, water and animal feces. Unlike many foodborne germs, they can survive refrigeration and even freezing. This is why one contaminated batch at a plant like Almark’s Gainesville facility can reach many different egg brands.

Which Almark Foods Eggs Are Affected?

Almark Foods recalled hard-boiled and peeled eggs from its Gainesville, Georgia plant. It sold them under more than 30 retail and food-service brand names. The affected products can be identified by these details:

• Retail pillow packs and pouch packs sold under brands including Great Value, Eggland’s Best, LIDL and Giant Eagle
• Retail 5-pound bags sold under brands including ShopRite, Kirkland Signature and 7 Select
• Frozen diced eggs sold under the Almark Foods, Crystal Lake, Rainbow Farms and Rembrandt Foods brands
• Egg Protein Kits, which package a hard-boiled egg together with other foods in one kit
• Bulk hard-boiled eggs packed in 20-, 23- and 25-pound plastic pails sold to food-service companies and further-processing plants
• Every affected package carries a “Best If Used By” code beginning with the letter “G” for the Gainesville plant
• The “Best If Used By” dates on affected packages run through March 2, 2020

Why Were Almark Foods Eggs Recalled?

Almark Foods recalled its egg products because FDA linked them to a Listeria monocytogenes infection outbreak. The agency first notified the company on December 18, 2019. It said eggs from its Gainesville facility might be tied to reported illnesses.

A sample FDA collected at the facility later matched the outbreak strain found in people who had gotten sick. That match is why Almark expanded its recall to every hard-boiled egg product made there.

Listeria bacteria can survive refrigeration. That is why contamination inside one facility can spread to many branded products that look and taste normal.

Of six ill people investigators could interview, five said they had eaten eggs. Most often that meant packaged hard-boiled eggs, prepared salads, or restaurant meals.

Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses

Eight people across five states became ill with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes linked to Almark Foods’ eggs. CDC’s final update reported that count. Five of those people were hospitalized, and one person in Texas died.

Specimens from ill people were collected between April 2017 and December 2019, before CDC closed its count. One newborn was infected after the mother was exposed to Listeria during pregnancy, though the baby survived.

These figures reflect only reported and laboratory-confirmed cases. The true number of people who became sick from the recalled eggs may be higher. Not everyone who develops symptoms seeks testing or reports it to a health department.

What Should Consumers Do?

Anyone who may still have Almark Foods egg products at home should take the following steps:

1. Check the package’s “Best If Used By” code for the “G” prefix identified above, which marks eggs from the Gainesville facility
2. Do not eat any recalled hard-boiled or peeled egg product, even if it looks and smells normal
3. Throw the product away or return it to the store where it was purchased for a refund
4. Wash and sanitize any refrigerator shelves, containers or surfaces the eggs may have touched
5. Call Almark Foods’ Customer Helpline at (877) 546-0454, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern, or report a problem to FDA through its official online reporting form
6. Watch for symptoms of listeriosis, including fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck or confusion. Call a doctor promptly if they develop, especially during pregnancy or with a weakened immune system

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many People Were Sickened by the Almark Foods Egg Outbreak?

Eight people were sickened by the Almark Foods egg outbreak, according to CDC’s final count, including one newborn infected before birth. Those who fell ill ranged in age from under 1 to 82, with a median age of 71. Of them, 62 percent were male.

What Are the Symptoms of Listeria Infection?

Symptoms of Listeria infection include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion and loss of balance. Some people also have nausea or diarrhea. Pregnant women may notice only mild, flu-like symptoms. Even so, the infection can still cause miscarriage, stillbirth or a serious newborn infection.

When Do Symptoms of a Listeria Infection Usually Start?

Symptoms of a Listeria infection usually start one to four weeks after eating contaminated food. CDC notes some people have reported symptoms as early as the same day of exposure. Others have reported symptoms as late as 70 days after it. This can make a specific meal hard to pinpoint.

How Do I Know If My Almark Foods Eggs Are Part of the Recall?

You can tell if Almark Foods eggs are part of the recall using the “G”-prefix code check described above. Egg Protein Kit buyers should check the code printed inside the kit rather than on the outer box.

Was 7-Eleven’s “7 Select” Brand Included in the Almark Foods Egg Recall?

Yes, 7-Eleven’s 7 Select brand was included in the Almark Foods egg recall. FDA’s enforcement records list “7 Select” alongside Almark Foods and Sunshine as brand names on that product line. The line is called White Medium Hard-Cooked Eggs With Salt and Pepper. The recall number is F-0627-2020.

Why Were so Many Different Egg Brands Included in the Same Recall?

So many different egg brands were included because Almark Foods packaged hard-boiled eggs at one Gainesville, Georgia plant. Other companies then sold those eggs under their own labels. FDA’s Listeria finding recalled every brand packaged there together, across 29 separate recall numbers, one per brand line.

References

1. https://api.fda.gov/food/enforcement.json?search=recalling_firm:%22Almark+Foods%22&limit=20
2. https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-listeria-monocytogenes-hard-boiled-eggs-december-2019
3. https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/eggs-12-19/index.html
4. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-products-associated-fda-almark-foods-recall-due
5. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/almark-foods-expanded-recall-all-products-its-georgia-facility-due-possible-listeria-monocytogenes
6. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/almark-foods-recalls-hard-cooked-egg-products-pails-due-possible-listeria-monocytogenes
7. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/listeria-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20355269