Legal activity involving August Egg Company continued into 2026. In July 2026, Sonoma County Superior Court addressed Fairchild v. August Egg Company and left the case scheduled for a February 2027 jury trial, providing a current-year litigation development beyond the completed federal outbreak investigation.
Quick Facts
- Company: August Egg Company of Hilmar, California
- Recall size: About 1.7 million dozen brown shell eggs
- Hazard: Salmonella Enteritidis contamination linked to a multistate outbreak
- Outbreak: 134 illnesses, 38 hospitalizations, and one death
Table Of Contents
- Latest August Egg Company Lawsuit and Recall Developments
- What Is the August Egg Company Recall?
- Why Were August Egg Company Eggs Recalled?
- How Many People Became Sick?
- What Did FDA Testing Find?
- Which August Egg Company Eggs Were Recalled?
- Where Were the Recalled Eggs Sold?
- What Is Salmonella?
- What Are the Symptoms of Salmonella?
- Were Antibiotic-Resistance Concerns Identified?
- Can Salmonella Cause Serious Complications?
- What Did August Egg Company Do After the Recall?
- What Is the Current August Egg Company Lawsuit Status?
- Who May Be Affected?
- What Evidence May Matter in an August Egg Company Claim?
- Who May Be Liable for a Salmonella Egg Illness?
- Do I Qualify for an August Egg Company Claim?
- Legal Process for an August Egg Company Claim
- Compensation in a Salmonella Foodborne Illness Case
- Important August Egg Company Lawsuit and Recall Developments
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the August Egg Company Lawsuit?
- Is there an August Egg Company lawsuit in 2026?
- How many August Egg Company eggs were recalled?
- How many people became sick?
- Which plant codes were recalled?
- What are the symptoms of Salmonella?
- Is the August Egg Company outbreak still active?
- Can I file an August Egg Company Lawsuit?
- Do I Have an August Egg Company Lawsuit?
- References
Latest August Egg Company Lawsuit and Recall Developments
July 2026
July 9, 2026 – Sonoma County Superior Court addressed Fairchild v. August Egg Company, case number 25CV04370, during an order-to-show-cause calendar. The court stated that it was satisfied with a response filed by August Egg Company’s counsel on May 8, vacated the previously issued order to show cause, imposed no sanctions, and left the case set for a February 26, 2027 jury trial. [1]
July 2025
July 10, 2025 – FDA and CDC announced that the Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak linked to August Egg Company eggs was over. Investigators reported 134 illnesses in 10 states, 38 hospitalizations, and one death in California. [2]
July 10, 2025 – FDA reported that three environmental samples collected from cage-free laying houses used by August Egg Company tested positive for Salmonella and matched the outbreak strain through whole genome sequencing. FDA stated that the recalled eggs were already beyond shelf life and that its outbreak investigation was complete. [2]
June 2025
June 6, 2025 – August Egg Company recalled approximately 1.7 million dozen brown cage-free and brown certified organic shell eggs because they could be contaminated with Salmonella. The affected products had been distributed to retailers in multiple states. [3]
June 6, 2025 – CDC initially reported 79 outbreak illnesses in seven states and 21 hospitalizations. Traceback identified August Egg Company as a common egg supplier, and environmental testing found Salmonella genetically related to the strain isolated from patients. [4]
What Is the August Egg Company Recall?
The recall involved brown cage-free and brown certified organic shell eggs processed by August Egg Company of Hilmar, California. FDA reported that approximately 1.7 million dozen eggs were included.
The recalled eggs were sold under multiple brand names and in several carton sizes. Some eggs were also distributed loose in medium, large, and jumbo sizes.
Consumers could identify affected products by plant codes P-6562 or CA-5330 and Julian dates ranging from 32 through 126.
Why Were August Egg Company Eggs Recalled?
The eggs were recalled because they could contain Salmonella Enteritidis, a bacterium capable of causing foodborne illness. The recall became part of a multistate outbreak investigation involving patients across several states.
FDA conducted traceback, facility inspections, and environmental sampling. Whole genome sequencing showed that Salmonella recovered from environmental samples matched the outbreak strain found in sick patients.
CDC ultimately concluded that epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback data showed eggs distributed by August Egg Company were contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis and made people sick. [4]
How Many People Became Sick?
CDC reported 134 confirmed outbreak illnesses in 10 states. Illness onset dates ranged from February 24 through June 6, 2025.
Hospitalization information was available for 112 patients, and 38 were hospitalized. One death was reported in California.
CDC cautioned that the actual number of illnesses was likely higher because some people recover without seeking medical care or undergoing laboratory testing.
What Did FDA Testing Find?
FDA collected environmental samples during its investigation of facilities associated with August Egg Company. Three samples from cage-free laying houses tested positive for Salmonella and matched the outbreak strain through whole genome sequencing.
Earlier sampling at the company’s processing operation had also produced Salmonella isolates genetically related to the outbreak strain. These findings reinforced the epidemiologic and traceback evidence.
FDA said the recalled eggs were already included in the company’s recall and were beyond shelf life when the investigation closed.
Which August Egg Company Eggs Were Recalled?
The recall covered brown cage-free and brown certified organic eggs in several package sizes and wholesale configurations. Affected cartons carried plant codes P-6562 or CA-5330.
Recalled products also carried Julian dates ranging from 32 through 126. FDA advised consumers to use the identifying codes rather than relying solely on brand names or carton appearance.
The large recall included retail cartons as well as loose eggs packaged for commercial distribution.
Where Were the Recalled Eggs Sold?
Eggs distributed between February 3 and May 15, 2025 were sold in California and Nevada through retailers including Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raley’s, Food 4 Less, and Ralphs.
August Egg Company also distributed affected eggs to Walmart stores in California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, Indiana, and Illinois.
The affected sell-by dates extended into June 2025, depending on the distribution channel and product.
What Is Salmonella?
Salmonella are bacteria that can cause an infection called salmonellosis. Infection commonly occurs after consuming contaminated food. [5]
Anyone can become infected, but children under five, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems can face an increased risk of severe disease.
Some infections remain limited to the digestive tract, while others can become invasive and spread to other parts of the body.
What Are the Symptoms of Salmonella?
Common symptoms include diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. CDC states that symptoms generally begin six hours to six days after exposure. [6]
Most people recover within four to seven days without specific treatment. More serious illness can require hospitalization, particularly when dehydration or invasive infection develops.
Medical attention may be appropriate for prolonged diarrhea or vomiting, bloody stool, high fever, or signs of dehydration.
Were Antibiotic-Resistance Concerns Identified?
CDC reported that whole genome sequencing analysis predicted resistance to nalidixic acid and reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin in isolates from patients in the outbreak. Some individual isolates also showed predicted resistance to additional antibiotics. [4]
Most Salmonella infections resolve without antibiotics. However, CDC noted that infections requiring antibiotic treatment could potentially require different medication choices when resistance is present.
Can Salmonella Cause Serious Complications?
Salmonella can occasionally spread beyond the intestines into the bloodstream or other parts of the body. Serious complications can require hospitalization and prolonged medical care.
CDC identifies potential complications such as bloodstream infection and reactive arthritis. Severe infection can pose greater risks for young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. [6]
The August Egg Company outbreak included 38 hospitalizations and one reported death.
What Did August Egg Company Do After the Recall?
August Egg Company stated that it stopped selling fresh shell eggs from the affected operation and diverted eggs to an egg-breaking facility.
The breaking facility pasteurized eggs, which the company said was intended to eliminate potential foodborne pathogens.
FDA later reported that it was working with the involved firms on corrective and preventive measures after the outbreak investigation concluded.
What Is the Current August Egg Company Lawsuit Status?
Fairchild v. August Egg Company remained active in Sonoma County Superior Court in July 2026. A court tentative ruling stated that the case remained scheduled for a February 26, 2027 jury trial. [1]
The July 2026 court document does not describe the underlying allegations or decide liability. It establishes a current procedural development involving August Egg Company and confirms that the case had not been dismissed at that stage.
The FDA and CDC outbreak materials remain separate public-health records and do not determine liability in the court case.
Who May Be Affected?
Consumers who ate brown cage-free or organic eggs supplied by August Egg Company during the outbreak period may have been exposed to Salmonella.
People who developed laboratory-confirmed salmonellosis may want to preserve medical records, diagnostic results, receipts, loyalty-account histories, photographs of egg cartons, and information documenting when the eggs were purchased and consumed.
What Evidence May Matter in an August Egg Company Claim?
- The original egg carton or photographs of the packaging
- Plant code and Julian date information
- Store receipts or loyalty-account purchase records
- Medical records documenting Salmonella infection
- Laboratory test results
- Hospitalization and treatment records
- Documentation showing when and where the eggs were eaten
Foodborne-illness claims often depend on linking a particular exposure with a medically documented infection. Product codes, laboratory testing, and timing can therefore be particularly important.
Who May Be Liable for a Salmonella Egg Illness?
Potential liability depends on the evidence and applicable state law. Egg producers, processors, distributors, retailers, and other entities in the supply chain may potentially be evaluated when contaminated food allegedly causes illness.
Possible theories can include negligence, defective food products, breach of warranty, or other state-law claims. A government recall or outbreak finding does not automatically establish civil liability against August Egg Company or another party.
Do I Qualify for an August Egg Company Claim?
- Did you eat eggs supplied or processed by August Egg Company during the outbreak period?
- Did the carton show plant code P-6562 or CA-5330 with an affected Julian date?
- Were you later diagnosed with Salmonella or hospitalized for related symptoms?
- Can you document the purchase, diagnosis, laboratory testing, or medical treatment?
Answering yes to one or more questions does not automatically establish a lawsuit. An attorney can review the recalled product, exposure history, laboratory results, medical evidence, and applicable filing deadlines to determine whether further investigation may be appropriate.
Legal Process for an August Egg Company Claim
- Free case review. An attorney reviews the egg exposure, illness, treatment, and available documentation.
- Investigation. Evidence may include egg cartons, purchase records, laboratory results, medical records, hospitalization records, and FDA or CDC outbreak information.
- Filing. If the evidence and applicable law support a claim, a foodborne-illness lawsuit may be filed against one or more potentially responsible parties.
- Discovery/negotiation. The parties may exchange records, obtain testimony, consult medical or food-safety experts, and discuss possible resolution.
- Resolution. A case may conclude through settlement, dismissal, court ruling, or trial depending on its facts and procedural history.
Compensation in a Salmonella Foodborne Illness Case
Depending on the circumstances, a claim may seek damages for hospitalization, medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, future treatment, and other losses permitted under applicable law.
Compensation amounts vary by case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Important August Egg Company Lawsuit and Recall Developments
| Event | Month/Year | Type | Status | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairchild Court Proceeding | July 2026 | Litigation | Trial scheduled | [1] | February 2027 trial date |
| Outbreak Investigation Closed | July 2025 | FDA/CDC Outbreak Update | Complete | [2] | 134 illnesses, one death |
| August Egg Company Recall | June 2025 | FDA-Posted Food Recall | Products expired | [3] | About 1.7 million dozen |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the August Egg Company Lawsuit?
The August Egg Company Lawsuit topic concerns foodborne-illness claims and litigation involving eggs linked to the 2025 Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak. A Sonoma County case involving August Egg Company remained set for trial as of July 2026.
Is there an August Egg Company lawsuit in 2026?
Yes. Sonoma County Superior Court records show Fairchild v. August Egg Company remained pending in July 2026 and was scheduled for a February 26, 2027 jury trial. The cited court ruling does not decide liability or describe the merits of the underlying claims.
How many August Egg Company eggs were recalled?
August Egg Company recalled approximately 1.7 million dozen shell eggs. The recall covered brown cage-free and brown certified organic eggs processed at its California operation.
How many people became sick?
CDC reported 134 illnesses across 10 states. Thirty-eight patients were hospitalized, and one death was reported in California.
Which plant codes were recalled?
Affected cartons carried plant codes P-6562 or CA-5330. The recalled products also had Julian dates ranging from 32 through 126.
What are the symptoms of Salmonella?
Symptoms commonly include diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. They generally begin within six hours to six days after exposure.
Is the August Egg Company outbreak still active?
No. CDC declared the outbreak over in July 2025, and FDA stated that recalled eggs were beyond shelf life and should no longer have been available for sale.
Can I file an August Egg Company Lawsuit?
A consumer who developed medically documented Salmonella infection after eating eggs linked to the outbreak may warrant individual legal review. A recall, outbreak finding, or pending lawsuit does not automatically establish liability in another person’s case.
Do I Have an August Egg Company Lawsuit?
If you or a loved one developed a serious Salmonella infection after eating recalled August Egg Company eggs, you may have legal options. Contact Schmidt & Clark for a free case review.
References
[1] https://sonoma.courts.ca.gov/system/files/tentative-rulings/07-09-26-osc-tr.pdf
[2] https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-eggs-june-2025
[3] https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/august-egg-company-recalls-shell-eggs-because-possible-health-risk
[4] https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/outbreaks/eggs-06-25/investigation.html
[5] https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/about/
[6] https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/signs-symptoms/index.html