How to Check If Your Eggs Are in the FDA Recall — Using the Recall Database and Your Carton Label

There's a salmonella-linked egg recall and you want to know if your eggs are affected. Here's how to check in under 2 minutes, what the carton numbers mean, and what to do if yours match.

Quick Check: 2-Minute Method

1. Pick up your egg carton and look for the plant code — a number starting with "P-" followed by a number (e.g., P-1234) printed on the end of the carton or lid.
2. Find the Julian date — a 3-digit number representing the day of the year the eggs were packed (001 = January 1, 365 = December 31). It's printed near the plant code.
3. Go to fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts — in the search bar, type "eggs" and filter by the current year.
4. Find the egg recall notice → click it → look for the list of affected plant codes and date ranges.
5. Compare your P-number and Julian date to the list. If both match → your eggs are recalled. If only one matches or neither matches → your eggs are not part of this recall.

This takes under 2 minutes. If the FDA site is slow (common during high-traffic recall announcements), continue to the deeper methods below.

If the FDA Site Is Down or Not Loading

Alternative 1: USDA Recall Database

The USDA tracks egg recalls alongside the FDA. Go to fsis.usda.gov/recalls → filter by "Eggs" in the product type dropdown → find the current recall notice. The USDA and FDA databases don't always list the same recalls — check both if you're uncertain.

Alternative 2: Check the Retailer's Website Directly

Major grocery chains (Walmart, Kroger, Costco, Target) post recall notices on their own websites faster than FDA search results update. Search "[your store name] egg recall [current year]" — the store's recall page will specify which egg brands and date codes are affected for their products.

Alternative 3: Call 1-888-SAFEFOOD

The USDA's meat and poultry hotline (1-888-723-3366, Mon–Fri 10AM–6PM ET) handles egg safety questions. Have your carton's plant code and Julian date ready — agents can look up whether your specific code is under recall.

Reading Your Egg Carton: What the Numbers Mean

Understanding these codes makes checking any recall faster:

• Plant Code (P-XXXX): Identifies the processing facility. This is the most important number for recall checks — it tells you where the eggs were packed, not where they were sold.
• Julian Date (3 digits): Packing date. Day 1 = January 1, Day 365 (or 366) = December 31. If your carton shows "032," the eggs were packed on February 1. Recall notices specify a range of Julian dates — eggs packed outside that range at the same facility are typically not recalled.
• Sell-By Date: Not used for recall matching — recalls specify Julian dates, not sell-by dates, because sell-by dates vary by retailer.
• Brand Name: Many egg brands are packed at the same facility (same P-code) under different brand names. If your brand isn't listed but your P-code matches, your eggs are still included in the recall.

What to Do If Your Eggs Are Recalled

1. Don't eat them. Do not scramble, hard-boil, or otherwise cook the recalled eggs — the recall means they may be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis, which is not killed at typical cooking temperatures in all egg preparations.
2. Don't throw them away yet — bring the carton to the store where you bought them for a full refund. No receipt is required for recalled food items.
3. If you've already eaten them: watch for symptoms — Salmonella symptoms (fever, diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting) typically appear within 6 hours to 6 days of eating contaminated food. Seek medical attention if symptoms are severe or if you're in a high-risk group (elderly, pregnant, immunocompromised, children under 5).
4. Clean any surfaces the eggs touched: wash countertops, refrigerator shelves, and egg holders with hot soapy water, then sanitize with a diluted bleach solution (1 tablespoon bleach per gallon of water).

Getting Your Refund

• At the store: Bring the carton (even if partially used) to the customer service desk — most stores accept returned recalled items with or without a receipt.
• If you bought online (Instacart, Amazon Fresh, Walmart+): Go to your order history → find the egg order → select "Return Item" or "Report Issue" → choose "Product recall" as the reason. Refunds process within 3–5 business days.
• If the store won't accept the return: Contact the egg brand's manufacturer directly — the toll-free number is usually on the carton. They are legally required to offer refunds on recalled products.

Reoccurrence Prevention

• Sign up for FDA email alerts: Go to fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts → scroll to bottom → "Get Email Alerts" → subscribe to the Food category. You'll receive recall notices by email the day they're posted.
• Check the USDA's app: The FoodKeeper app (available on iPhone and Android) provides storage guidelines and links to current recalls. It's the USDA's official consumer food safety app — search "FoodKeeper" in your app store.
• Refrigerate eggs immediately after purchase — U.S. commercial eggs must be refrigerated (unlike European eggs). Eggs left at room temperature for more than 2 hours in warm weather have increased bacterial growth risk regardless of recall status.

Bottom Line

Checking an egg recall takes under 2 minutes: find the P-code and Julian date on your carton end, then compare against the FDA recall notice at fda.gov/safety/recalls. The P-code (facility) and Julian date range (packing dates) are the two numbers that matter — brand name alone isn't sufficient because multiple brands are often packed at the same facility. If your eggs match, return them to the store for a full refund without a receipt. Sign up for FDA email alerts to get notified automatically when future recalls are posted.

Can't find your carton's P-code or Julian date? Drop a description of what's printed on your carton end in the comments and we'll help you decode it.