Vital Farms Egg Recall Lawsuit | 2026 Latest Updates

Almark Foods recalled Vital Farms Pasture-Raised Hard-Cooked Eggs after the FDA linked them to a multistate Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. Almark first recalled hard-boiled eggs in pails on December 20, 2019, then expanded the recall on December 23, 2019. The Gainesville plant made all three recalled Vital Farms egg items. Affected cartons carry a “Best If Used By” date through March 2, 2020 with a code starting with the letter G. Listeria monocytogenes can cause a serious infection. Anyone with an affected carton should throw it away and not eat it. This recall is closed: the CDC ended its outbreak investigation on March 4, 2020, after linking several illnesses and one death to the recalled eggs.

Latest Vital Farms Eggs Recall Updates

January 17, 2025: Vital Farms Confirms Advertising Lawsuit Is Over

Vital Farms said on its own website that the 2021 lawsuit over its “pasture-raised” advertising claims was over. The plaintiffs agreed to drop their claims, and the company said it paid them nothing[1]. Vital Farms called the outcome a win and said it stands by its animal-welfare claims. This case is separate from the Listeria outbreak and the illnesses linked to it. It involved marketing claims rather than food safety.

March 4, 2020: CDC Declares the Listeria Outbreak Investigation Over

The CDC ended its investigation into the multistate Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to Almark Foods hard-boiled eggs[2]. The agency and the FDA had been investigating the outbreak since December 2019. The final tally was 8 illnesses across 5 states, 5 hospitalizations and 1 death in Texas. Illness onset dates ranged from April 10, 2017 to December 7, 2019, CDC said.

December 23, 2019: Almark Foods Expands the Recall to All Vital Farms Egg Items

Almark Foods expanded its recall to cover every hard-boiled egg product made at its Gainesville, Georgia plant[3]. The expansion covered all three Vital Farms items, three days after its first recall. The company acted after a follow-up FDA sample from the plant genetically matched the outbreak strain. That was a sign the bacteria had not been fully cleared, so Almark also suspended production at the plant.

December 20, 2019: Almark Foods Issues Its First Recall of Hard-Boiled Eggs in Pails

Almark Foods issued its first voluntary recall on December 20, 2019[4]. The recall covered Hard-Boiled and Peeled Eggs sold in pails to food-service companies from its Gainesville, Georgia facility. The FDA had notified the company two days earlier that the pail products might be linked to the outbreak. Almark pulled the pail products from the market as a precaution while it worked with regulators.

What Is Listeria?

Listeria is the name for a type of bacteria that can contaminate food, the CDC says[5]. Eating contaminated food can cause an infection called listeriosis. The infection is rare, but it can be serious. That is the bacteria the FDA and CDC linked to the hard-boiled eggs Almark Foods recalled. It poses special risks to pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems, the groups most affected in this outbreak.

Which Vital Farms Eggs Are Affected?

Three Vital Farms hard-cooked egg products made at Almark Foods’ Gainesville, Georgia plant were part of this recall, announced in December 2019:

• Vital Farms Pasture-Raised Hard-Cooked Eggs, 5-pound bag
• Vital Farms Three Boxed 2-Counts Pasture-Raised Hard-Cooked Eggs
• Vital Farms 2-Count Pasture-Raised Hard-Cooked Eggs with salt and pepper

Look for the “Best If Used By” date printed on the package. A code that starts with the letter G means the eggs were made at the Gainesville plant and are part of this recall. A code starting with N or Y means that carton was made somewhere else and is not included. Affected dates run through March 2, 2020. Protein Kit buyers should check the code on the egg package inside the kit.

Why Were Vital Farms Eggs Recalled?

Vital Farms eggs were recalled because Almark Foods’ Gainesville, Georgia plant could not rule out Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The FDA had linked the plant’s hard-boiled eggs to a multistate outbreak and first notified Almark on December 18, 2019. A follow-up sample the FDA collected at the plant genetically matched the strain behind the outbreak. This suggested the bacteria might not have been fully eliminated. Almark then expanded the recall to every hard-boiled egg product made there, covering all three of its Vital Farms lines. This is separate from the unrelated 2021 lawsuit over Vital Farms’ “pasture-raised” advertising, explained in Legal Options below.

Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses

The outbreak’s case count, including the hospitalizations and the death in Texas, is detailed in the March 2020 update above, based on cases reported to CDC and state health departments nationwide. One baby was born to a mother infected during pregnancy, but the newborn survived. Investigators traced the illnesses to hard-boiled eggs made at Almark Foods’ Gainesville plant using interviews and genetic testing. These are the figures CDC and FDA reported publicly. They reflect confirmed lab matches to the outbreak strain rather than every possible case. Information was available for only seven of the eight ill people, and five were hospitalized.

What Should Consumers Do?

Anyone who still has recalled Vital Farms eggs at home should take the following steps as soon as reasonably possible:

1. Check the “Best If Used By” code on the package for a “G” prefix.
2. Do not eat any affected egg product, even if it looks and smells normal.
3. Throw the eggs away, or return them to the store where you bought them for a refund.
4. Wash and sanitize any surfaces, containers, or utensils that touched the recalled eggs.
5. Call Almark Foods’ Customer Helpline at (877) 546-0454, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern, with questions, or report an illness to the FDA.
6. Watch for symptoms of listeriosis, such as fever, body aches, headache, a stiff neck, and confusion. Call a doctor right away if symptoms appear, especially if you are pregnant.

Legal Options

No lawsuit, class action, or multidistrict litigation has been identified over the Listeria illnesses linked to this recall. A recall does not automatically establish liability, and reported illnesses are not proof that a specific product caused every case. A separate, unrelated 2021 class action accused Vital Farms of misleading “pasture-raised” advertising. The PETA Foundation helped bring that case, then later withdrew. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas dismissed the claims, with no payment made.

Filing Deadlines

This recall does not set its own deadline for filing a legal claim. Any deadline comes from the law of the state where the claim would be filed. How much time someone has depends on where they live and when the illness, and any diagnosis, occurred. Some states start the clock at diagnosis rather than at the exposure itself. A missed filing deadline connected to this recall can end a claim even when the facts are strong. Anyone considering one should speak with a lawyer promptly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Were Other Egg Brands Included in the Almark Foods Recall?

Almark Foods’ recall covered dozens of other store and private-label egg brands, including Kroger, Kirkland Signature, and Great Value. These were beyond the three Vital Farms items, all packaged at its Gainesville, Georgia facility.

Is There a Class Action or Lawsuit over the Vital Farms Egg Recall?

No lawsuit or class action has been identified over the Vital Farms egg recall’s Listeria illnesses. Vital Farms said in its fiscal 2024 annual report, filed in early 2025, that it was not party to any material litigation.

What Are the Symptoms of Listeria Food Poisoning?

Symptoms of Listeria food poisoning include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, and loss of balance. They usually start 1 to 4 weeks after eating contaminated food. Some people notice symptoms the same day, or as late as 70 days afterward.

Why Is Listeria Especially Dangerous for Pregnant Women?

Listeria is especially dangerous for pregnant women. Even mild, flu-like symptoms in the mother can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or a life-threatening infection in a newborn. CDC guidance urges pregnant women with symptoms of listeriosis after eating a recalled egg product to contact a healthcare provider promptly.

How Did Investigators Trace the Outbreak to Vital Farms Eggs?

Investigators traced the outbreak to Vital Farms and other eggs made at the same Georgia plant. They used PulseNet, the CDC’s national subtyping network, together with whole genome sequencing. The results showed that Listeria bacteria from ill people were closely related and likely shared one source.

Does the Recall Affect All Vital Farms Egg Products?

The recall does not affect all Vital Farms egg products. It covers only three Vital Farms hard-cooked egg items and leaves the company’s other eggs untouched. Vital Farms’ shell eggs come from a separate facility, the company’s own Egg Central Station in Springfield, Missouri.

References

1. https://vitalfarms.com/whats-happening-with-the-vital-farms-lawsuit/
2. https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/listeria/outbreaks/eggs-12-19/index.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.cdc.gov/listeria/about/index.html