In the days before a holiday weekend, a quiet precaution rippled through Costco stores across five southeastern states — nearly 11,000 cartons of Kirkland Signature organic eggs, sold under the promise of wholesome nourishment, were recalled by Handsome Brook Farms over the specter of salmonella contamination. No one has fallen ill, and yet the warning carries weight, as it so often does, for those least able to bear the consequences: the very young, the very old, and the already vulnerable. It is a reminder that the long, invisible chain between farm and table carries risks that no label of '
Costco Recalls 10,800 Organic Egg Cartons Over Salmonella Risk
Potential health risk to vulnerable populations including young children, elderly persons, and immunocompromised individuals if contaminated eggs are consumed.
Check your refrigerator now if you shop at Costco in the affected states
Mark
Why would salmonella be in organic eggs specifically? Is there something about how they're raised that makes them more vulnerable?
Mimi
The recall doesn't specify the source of contamination. Organic certification relates to feed and living conditions, not necessarily to pathogen risk. Salmonella can contaminate eggs at any point—in the hen, during collection, or in processing. It's not unique to organic production.
Mark
So this could have happened to any eggs from any producer?
Mimi
Exactly. The difference here is that Handsome Brook Farms detected the risk and acted on it. That's actually the system working—they caught it before widespread illness.
Mark
But no one's sick yet. How did they know to recall?
Mimi
Testing. Likely routine FDA or company testing found salmonella in the product or in the production environment. They don't wait for people to get sick to pull food from shelves.
Mark
What about the people who already ate them?
Mimi
If they're healthy, they probably won't have any symptoms. The real danger is if a grandmother or a young child consumed them. That's who needs to be most careful.
Mark
And Costco just accepts returns on this?
Mimi
Yes. Costco's policy is straightforward on recalls—full refund, no questions. It's part of the cost of doing business in food retail.
Mark
What happens to Handsome Brook Farms after this?
Mimi
They'll face scrutiny of their production practices, likely FDA inspection, and potential reputational damage. But a voluntary recall handled quickly actually protects them more than if they'd ignored it.
The Pulse
- Nearly 11,000 cartons of eggs marketed as wholesome and organic may carry one of the most common and dangerous foodborne pathogens — salmonella.
- Twenty-five Costco locations across Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee are at the center of the distribution, leaving an unknown number of households potentially exposed.
- Vulnerable populations — young children, elderly individuals, and the immunocompromised — face the gravest danger, with salmonella capable of turning from discomfort into a life-threatening crisis.
- The recall is precautionary and no illnesses have been confirmed yet, but the window of risk remains open as the eggs carry a use-by date of January 6.
- Consumers are urged to check cartons for UPC 9661910680, Julian code 327, and the January 6 date — and to discard or return them immediately rather than attempt any workaround through cooking.
In the days before a holiday weekend, a quiet precaution rippled through Costco stores across five southeastern states — nearly 11,000 cartons of Kirkland Signature organic eggs, sold under the promise of wholesome nourishment, were recalled by Handsome Brook Farms over the specter of salmonella contamination. No one has fallen ill, and yet the warning carries weight, as it so often does, for those least able to bear the consequences: the very young, the very old, and the already vulnerable. It is a reminder that the long, invisible chain between farm and table carries risks that no label of 'organic' or 'pasture raised' can fully dissolve.
Handsome Brook Farms has voluntarily recalled approximately 10,800 cartons of organic eggs sold under Costco's Kirkland Signature label, citing potential salmonella contamination. The affected product — Organic Pasture Raised 24-Count Eggs — was distributed to 25 Costco stores across Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The FDA is overseeing the recall, though no confirmed illnesses have been reported.
Shoppers can identify affected cartons by three markers printed on the side of the plastic packaging: UPC code 9661910680, Julian code 327, and a use-by date of January 6. Anyone who purchased these eggs is advised to discard them immediately or return them to Costco for a full refund — there is no preparation method that renders a potentially contaminated egg safe.
The concern is especially acute for those most at risk: young children, elderly individuals, and people with weakened immune systems, for whom a salmonella infection can escalate from fever, nausea, and abdominal pain into something far more serious. Healthy adults may weather the illness, but the stakes for vulnerable populations are considerably higher.
Consumers with questions can contact Handsome Brook Farms by phone at (646) 733-4532, extension 1, on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern, or by email at recall@hbfeggs.com. Given the timing and the approaching use-by date, anyone who shops at an affected Costco location is encouraged to check their refrigerator now.
Handsome Brook Farms has initiated a voluntary recall of roughly 10,800 cartons of organic eggs sold at Costco locations across the Southeast, prompted by concerns about potential salmonella contamination. The eggs, marketed under Costco's Kirkland Signature label, were distributed to 25 stores in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee beginning last Friday.
The recalled product is the Organic Pasture Raised 24-Count Eggs. Consumers can identify affected cartons by checking for UPC code 9661910680, Julian code 327, and a use-by date of January 6, printed on the side of the plastic carton. The Food and Drug Administration is overseeing the recall, which remains precautionary—no confirmed cases of illness have been reported so far.
Salmonella poses a particular threat to vulnerable populations. Young children, elderly individuals, and people with compromised immune systems face the greatest risk of serious or even fatal infection. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. For most healthy adults, the infection is uncomfortable but manageable; for those in high-risk groups, it can become severe.
The company is advising anyone who purchased these eggs to either discard them immediately or return them to their local Costco for a full refund. There is no safe way to salvage the product through cooking or other preparation methods—the safest course is removal from the home.
Consumers with questions about the recall can reach Handsome Brook Farms by phone at (646) 733-4532, extension 1, during weekday business hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time. The company also accepts inquiries by email at recall@hbfeggs.com at any time. Given the distribution window and the January 6 use-by date, customers should check their refrigerators now if they shop at Costco in the affected states.
Notable Quotes
Salmonella can cause serious or fatal infections in young children, the elderly or others with weakened immune systems— Food and Drug Administration
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