Which States Are Facing the Egg-Linked Salmonella Surge? Here’s the Full List

California: The Primary Battleground in the Salmonella War

California sits at the epicenter of this egg-linked salmonella outbreak, serving as both ground zero and the distribution hub for contaminated products. These eggs were sold to restaurants and retailers in Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Washington, and Wyoming, but California’s position is unique. Recalled brown cage free eggs and brown certified organic eggs were distributed from February 3, 2025, through May 15, 2025, with sell by dates from March 4, 2025, to June 4, 2025, in California and Nevada to retail locations including Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raleys, Food 4 Less, and Ralphs. The Golden State’s massive grocery chain network means millions of consumers potentially had access to these tainted eggs. Six sick people reported traveling to California or Nevada in the week before they got sick, suggesting that even visitors to the state contracted the illness. Think of California as the primary valve in a contaminated pipeline that fed multiple states – when that valve failed, the consequences rippled across the entire western United States.

Nevada: The Silver State’s Unwanted Silver Lining

States with Cases: AZ, CA, KY, NE, NJ, NV, WA lists Nevada among the seven states with confirmed salmonella cases tied to this outbreak. Nevada’s proximity to California made it a natural distribution point for August Egg Company’s products. The recalled eggs were sold in California and Nevada with sell-by dates from March 4, 2025, to June 4, 2025, at grocery stores and retail locations including Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raley’s, Food 4 Less and Ralphs. They were also distributed to Walmart locations in Nevada and California and seven other states. What makes Nevada’s situation particularly concerning is that the state received eggs through both major grocery chains and Walmart locations, creating multiple entry points for contamination. The state’s tourism industry also played a role, as some infected individuals reported traveling to Nevada before falling ill. Nevada’s case demonstrates how modern food distribution networks can transform a single contaminated source into a multi-state health crisis within days.

Arizona: Desert Heat Couldn’t Stop This Bacterial Storm

Arizona earned its spot on the affected states list through its inclusion in the Walmart distribution network. The California-based company recalled 1,700,000 dozen organic and cage-free brown eggs, that were sold to restaurants and retailers in Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Washington, and Wyoming. The Grand Canyon State received contaminated eggs through Walmart locations in California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, Indiana, and Illinois with sell-by dates extending until June 19, 2025. Arizona’s involvement illustrates how national retail chains can quickly spread foodborne illness across vast geographic areas. The state’s large population centers like Phoenix and Tucson became unwitting recipients of these dangerous products. Arizona’s situation reminds us that in our interconnected food system, contamination in one California facility can threaten families gathered around breakfast tables in homes thousands of miles away across the desert Southwest.

Washington State: Pacific Northwest Under Siege

Washington State found itself caught in the crossfire of this salmonella outbreak despite being hundreds of miles from the source. States with Cases: AZ, CA, KY, NE, NJ, NV, WA confirms Washington among the seven states with actual illness cases. The state’s connection to the outbreak runs through the Walmart distribution network, as the eggs were also distributed to Walmart locations in California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, Indiana and Illinois with sell by dates from March 4, 2025, to June 19, 2025. What’s particularly troubling about Washington’s involvement is that ill people in Kentucky, New Jersey, and Washington reported traveling to California and Nevada before they got sick. This suggests that some Washington residents may have contracted the illness while visiting the primary outbreak zones, then returned home, potentially spreading it further. Washington’s case shows how modern travel patterns can complicate outbreak investigations and turn every state into a potential hotspot.

Kentucky: The Bluegrass State’s Unexpected Connection

Kentucky’s inclusion in the list of affected states comes as a surprise to many, given its distance from the primary outbreak zone in California. States with Cases: AZ, CA, KY, NE, NJ, NV, WA confirms Kentucky among the seven states with documented salmonella cases. However, Kentucky’s situation is unique – the state wasn’t part of the original egg distribution network. Instead, ill people in Kentucky, New Jersey, and Washington reported traveling to California and Nevada before they got sick. This means Kentucky residents contracted the illness while traveling and brought it back to their home state. Kentucky’s involvement demonstrates the complex nature of modern outbreak investigations, where the disease doesn’t respect state boundaries or distribution networks. The Bluegrass State’s cases serve as a stark reminder that in our mobile society, a contaminated breakfast in Las Vegas can become a hospital visit in Louisville just days later.

New Jersey: The Garden State’s Imported Problem

New Jersey joins the roster of affected states in a manner similar to Kentucky – through travel-related exposure rather than direct distribution. States with Cases: AZ, CA, KY, NE, NJ, NV, WA lists New Jersey among the seven states with confirmed cases. Like Kentucky, New Jersey wasn’t part of the original distribution network for August Egg Company’s contaminated products. Ill people in Kentucky, New Jersey, and Washington reported traveling to California and Nevada before they got sick, indicating that Garden State residents contracted salmonella while visiting the western states where the contaminated eggs were sold. New Jersey’s situation highlights a modern reality: foodborne illness outbreaks can spread far beyond their original geographic boundaries through tourism and business travel. A weekend trip to California wine country or a business meeting in Las Vegas could result in a serious illness back home in New Jersey. The state’s involvement proves that no region is truly isolated from food safety failures happening elsewhere in the country.

Nebraska: Cornhusker State Caught in the Distribution Web

Nebraska rounds out the list of seven states with confirmed salmonella cases, earning its place through the extensive Walmart distribution network. States with Cases: AZ, CA, KY, NE, NJ, NV, WA officially confirms Nebraska’s involvement in this outbreak. The Cornhusker State received contaminated eggs through restaurants and retailers in Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Washington, and Wyoming. Specifically, the eggs were also distributed from February 3, 2025, through May 6, 2025, with sell by dates from March 4, 2025, to June 19, 2025, to Walmart locations in California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, Indiana, and Illinois. Nebraska’s involvement underscores how a single company’s distribution network can create a spider web of contamination across the American heartland. Based on epidemiological information collected by CDC, a total of 79 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from seven states. There have been 21 hospitalizations, and no deaths have been reported, with Nebraska contributing to these alarming statistics through its connection to the tainted egg supply chain.