Widespread Recall of Liquid Egg Products Due to Contamination Concerns
Consumers around the nation should be vigilant as a substantial recall of liquid egg substitutes has been initiated due to contamination worries. The recall involves a significant volume of products from well-known brands, posing potential health risks, albeit minimal.
Cargill Kitchen Solutions, based in Michigan, has announced the recall of approximately 212,268 pounds of liquid egg products sold under the Egg Beaters and Bob Evans labels. This decision follows concerns that these products may have been contaminated with a cleaning solution, as confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The official recall notification can be accessed here.
The affected products were initially distributed in various states, including Ohio, Texas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, and Iowa. However, FSIS indicates that the distribution might have been more widespread across the United States.
A Cargill representative, Kristen Saunders, has stated that there are no further updates regarding the distribution’s extent. Cargill has reassured the public that these products do not pose a health threat if consumed but are being recalled as a precautionary measure.
The FSIS revealed that the potential contamination involves sodium hypochlorite, commonly known as bleach. Although ingesting bleach can lead to severe health issues, including permanent gastrointestinal damage or death, the risk from these products is considered low. FSIS scientists have concluded that the likelihood of adverse health effects is negligible, resulting in a Class III recall.
Despite the low risk, consumers are advised not to consume the products and are encouraged to either discard them or return them to the place of purchase. The recalled items, which bear the establishment number “G1804,” include the following:
- 32-oz. carton of “egg beaters ORIGINAL LIQUID EGG SUBSTITUTE” with a use-by date of AUG 10 2025.
- 32-oz. carton of “egg beaters CAGE-FREE ORIGINAL LIQUID EGG SUBSTITUTE” with a use-by date of AUG 09 2025.
- 32-oz. carton of “egg beaters CAGE-FREE ORIGINAL FROZEN EGG SUBSTITUTE” and “egg beaters NO ENJAULADAS ORIGINAL SUSTITUTO DE HUEVO CONGELADO” with a use-by date of MAR 07 2026.
- 32-oz. carton of “Bob Evans Better’n Eggs Made with Real Egg Whites” with a use-by date of AUG 10 2025.
Images of the product labels can be viewed here. Cargill has also established a consumer hotline at 1-844-419-1574 for inquiries related to the recall.
This recall comes amidst a backdrop of rising egg prices and dwindling supermarket supplies, largely attributed to the avian flu. This outbreak has led to the culling of millions of birds, making eggs a scarce commodity. Some retailers have imposed limits on egg purchases, and restaurants have added surcharges to egg-based dishes.
While egg prices have recently begun to decline from record highs seen earlier this year, the market remains volatile. The USDA reported a consistent drop in wholesale egg prices, but potential changes in grocery pricing could be influenced by various factors, including upcoming tariffs and consumer demand spikes during holidays such as Easter and Passover.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
