Food Safety
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Safety
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • White Papers
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
    • Contamination Control
    • Food Types
    • Management
    • Process Control
    • Regulatory
    • Sanitation
    • Supply Chain
    • Testing and Analysis
  • PODCAST
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Food Safety Five Newsreel
    • eBooks
    • FSM Distinguished Service Award
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Videos
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MORE
    • ENEWSLETTER >
      • Archive Issues
      • Subscribe to eNews
    • Store
    • Sponsor Insights
  • WEBINARS
  • FOOD SAFETY SUMMIT
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!

Food Safety

Listeria outbreak linked to hard-boiled eggs

Almark Foods recalls pails of eggs; restaurants and stores warned to sanitize surfaces

By Rose Shilling
Hard-boiled eggs recall
January 7, 2020

Public health officials are investigating a listeria outbreak linked to hard-boiled eggs used in salads at restaurants and grocery stores.

The outbreak strain infected seven people, including one who died, over the last two years in five states, the FDA says.

Almark Foods recalled pails of peeled eggs distributed to food service locations nationwide and suspended production because of the potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The eggs were sold primarily to further processing plants of egg products and restaurant chain suppliers.  

The FDA warned restaurants and retailers to “use extra vigilance” to clean and sanitize surfaces that the eggs may have touched to prevent cross-contamination.

The recalled white plastic pails of eggs, containing 20 pounds or more, were sold under the following names: Rainbow Select Hard-cooked Eggs, Rainbow Select Hard-cooked Eggs in Vinegar, Nic’s Salad Hard-boiled Eggs, Almark Hard-cooked Eggs and Sutherland Select Hard-cooked Eggs.

The products were not sold directly to consumers. Four people infected with the outbreak strain said in interviews with investigators that they ate boiled eggs in deli salads from grocery stores or salads at restaurants.

The illnesses started on dates from April 2017 to November 2019, including four illnesses this year. Four people had to be hospitalized.

The states with illnesses are Florida, Maine, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas.

Almark Foods says the FDA notified it that the eggs produced at its Gainesville, Ga., facility may be associated with the investigation. The company paused production to further investigate, its recall announcement says.

The FDA found the outbreak strain during an inspection of the facility in February 2019, matching it through genetic sequencing. The agency is doing more inspections and sampling. Almark Foods has been cooperating with the investigation.

This outbreak strain was found during environmental sampling in 2017 of one other food facility, the FDA says. That facility is not currently handling food and ceased operation in 2018.

Almark urged customers who purchased the eggs to destroy them. Customers with questions may call Almark Foods’ Customer Helpline at 877-546-0454 weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.

For a list of recalled Almark products with ID numbers and use by dates, go to the company’s recall announcement.

This article was originally posted on www.foodengineeringmag.com.
KEYWORDS: listeria outbreaks pathogens recalls

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Rose shilling author

Rose Shilling helps ensure Food Engineering Magazine is ready to print each month as managing editor. She writes feature stories on a variety of topics and tracks the food packaging industry. A journalist with an editing background at news services and newspapers, she also has driven editorial projects in health care and higher education.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • people holding baby chicks

    Serovar Differences Matter: Utility of Deep Serotyping in Broiler Production and Processing

    This article discusses the significance of Salmonella in...
    Microbiological
    By: Nikki Shariat Ph.D.
  • woman washing hands

    Building a Culture of Hygiene in the Food Processing Plant

    Everyone entering a food processing facility needs to...
    Sanitation
    By: Richard F. Stier, M.S.
  • graphical representation of earth over dirt

    Climate Change and Emerging Risks to Food Safety: Building Climate Resilience

    This article examines the multifaceted threats to food...
    Management
    By: Maria Cristina Tirado Ph.D., D.V.M. and Shamini Albert Raj M.A.
Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Subscribe to eNewsletter
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Website Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Food Safety Magazine audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Food Safety Magazine or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • mold
    Sponsored byIFC

    Tackling Mold Remediation in Food Processing Plants

  • a worker in a food processing plant
    Sponsored byLPS® DETEX®

    How a Beverage Facility Improved Food Safety and Compliance with Detectable Packaging Solutions

  • Two men standing in a produce storage facility having a discussion.
    Sponsored byOrkin Commercial

    Staying Compliant With FSMA

Popular Stories

sunflower oil

Louisiana Passes ‘MAHA’ Bill Targeting More Than 40 Ingredients, Including Seed Oils, Dyes, Sweeteners

smoked salmon in oil

Study Shows Food Type Significantly Affects Listeria’s Ability to Survive Digestion, Cause Sickness

Justin Ransom and Denise Eblen

USDA-FSIS Announces Dr. Justin Ransom as New Administrator

Events

July 15, 2025

Hygienic Design Risk Management: Industry Challenges and Global Insights

Live: July 15, 2025 at 11:00 am EDT: From this webinar, attendees will learn the importance of hygienic design to ensure food safety and sanitation effectiveness.

July 22, 2025

Beyond the Binder: Digital Management of Food Safety

Live: July 22, 2025 at 3:00 pm EDT: During this webinar, attendees will learn best practices for the use of digital food safety management systems across industry and regulatory agencies.

August 7, 2025

Achieve Active Managerial Control of Major Risk Factors Using a Food Safety Management System

Live: August 7, 2025 at 2:00 pm EDT: From this webinar, attendees will learn about changes to the FDA Food Code, which now includes a requirement for FSMS. 

View All

Products

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

See More Products
Environmental Monitoring Excellence eBook

Related Articles

  • FSS recalls generic image

    Outbreak investigation of Listeria monocytogenes: Hard-boiled eggs (December 2019)

    See More
  • Blackberries hepatitis outbreak

    Hepatitis A outbreak may be linked to fresh blackberries from Fresh Thyme chain

    See More
  • FSS recalls generic image

    Meijer recalls diced hard boiled eggs due to potential health risks

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • 1119258073.jpg

    FSMA and Food Safety Systems: Understanding and Implementing the Rules

  • 1119053595.jpg

    Food Safety for the 21st Century: Managing HACCP and Food Safety throughout the Global Supply Chain, 2E

  • 1118474600.jpg

    Practical Food Safety: Contemporary Issues and Future Directions

See More Products

Related Directories

  • PLM TrustLink

    PLM TrustLink® is a cloud-based IoT platform consisting of comprehensive condition-monitoring track & trace solutions that digitizes products in the supply chain, delivering transparency from origin to destination.
  • Recall InfoLink Inc.

    Recall InfoLink is a subscription software that makes recall process management easier and more effective. The cloud platform enables companies across the supply chain to easily distribute recall information, track progress in real time, generate reports for compliance needs, and complete modernized mock recall exercises.
  • Crystal Diagnostics

    Crystal Diagnostics is passionate about food safety. We recognize the impact food safety issues can have on the health and wellness of a global population. We also understand the devastating impact food pathogen outbreaks and subsequent recalls can have on a food producer. With these items in mind, Crystal Diagnostics moved to create a breakthrough new food pathogen testing platform, the AutoXpress. Liquid Crystal Technology with step away automation, faster test time, quicker results, lower test costs, and incredible accuracy.
×

Never miss the latest news and trends driving the food safety industry

eNewsletter | Website | eMagazine

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing