When Costco’s Kirkland Signature Organic Pasture-Raised Eggs were recalled on November 27th, most consumers treated it as a precaution. But as the Costco egg recall escalated to the FDA’s most serious classification—Class I—the question remains: How and why do food safety risks like this grow in severity?
What Is a Class I Recall?
A Class I recall is the most urgent level of food recall, issued when a product poses a high risk of causing serious health problems or even death. For Costco’s eggs, this means the salmonella contamination isn’t a minor or localized issue but one with significant potential to harm consumers.
Think of FDA and USDA food recalls as a tier system:
- Class I: High likelihood of serious health issues or fatalities.
- Class II: Health risks are present but less likely to cause severe harm.
- Class III: A product violates regulations but poses no direct health risk.
The Class I designation is rare, as it implies regulators see either widespread contamination or a credible risk of illness. The escalation of Costco’s egg recall suggests that new information, testing results, or expanded distribution data may have heightened the urgency.
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This article originally appeared here and was republished with permission.
