California-based Vega Farms recalled more than 1,500 dozen eggs for possible salmonella contamination.

More than 18,000 eggs sold in California have been recalled for possible salmonella contamination, according to a recall notice shared by state health officials.

Vega Farms issued the recall for its 12-count carton and 30-count flat in-shell eggs on Dec. 5, according to the notice from the California Department of Public Health. The warning covers about 1,515 dozen eggs, which may have been contaminated with salmonella during processing, the farm told local news station KCRA3 and the San Francisco Chronicle.

The farm said the affected eggs were distributed to stores, restaurants and farmers' markets, primarily in the Sacramento and Davis areas, the outlets reported.

The contamination came from the equipment used to process the eggs, not from the farm's chicken flocks themselves, Vega Farms told KCRA3. The farm also said it had removed the affected products from store shelves and notified retailers.

USA TODAY contacted Vega Farms on Wednesday, Dec. 10, but has not received a response.

Which eggs are included in the recall?

  • Vega Farms brand eggs, 12-count cartons
  • Vega Farms brand eggs, 30-count flats

Recalled egg cartons have the handler number 2136 and sell-by dates of Dec. 22, and prior or Julian (packaging) dates of 328 and prior, according to the CDPH notice.

What to do with recalled eggs

Anyone who may have affected eggs should check their cartons for the above labels and throw them away or return them to the place of purchase, Vega Farms told KCRA3 and the San Francisco Chronicle.

Symptoms of salmonella poisoning

Symptoms of salmonella poisoning usually start six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria. The most common symptoms are diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While most healthy people can recover in four to seven days without treatment, some vulnerable people, like children under 5, adults 65 and older and those with weakened immune systems, may experience more severe illness that requires medical treatment or hospitalization.

If you display any of these more serious symptoms, the CDC advises contacting your health care professional:

  • Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Diarrhea for more than three days that is not improving
  • Bloody diarrhea
  • So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down
  • Signs of dehydration, such as not peeing much, dry mouth and throat, and feeling dizzy when standing up

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Thousands of eggs sold in California recalled for salmonella concerns

Reporting by Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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