23 Californians Injured in Ramona Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Happy Hens Eggs

Salmonella in Two Happy Hens Barns Matched the Strain That Sickened 23 Californians Before the Ramona Farm’s Egg Recall

RAMONA, CALIFORNIA (October 31, 2026) – A group of 23 Californians were injured in a salmonella outbreak linked to Happy Hens organic eggs from a farm in Ramona.

San Diego County officials are saying that the outbreak was first reported on Tuesday, July 28. Illnesses began as early as June 21, with the latest case starting in mid-August.

Investigators first linked the illnesses to house-made mayonnaise prepared with raw eggs at the deli inside Ramona Family Naturals Market. The eggs were supplied by Happy Hens, a Ramona poultry farm, and cases were eventually reported among people around Del Mar, Jamul, La Jolla, and Ramona, along with one person in Riverside County.

During an FDA inspection that began August 17, which county officials described as unrelated to the outbreak, samples from two of the farm’s seven hen houses tested positive for salmonella. Genetic testing then matched that salmonella to the strain found in sick San Diegans.

The California Department of Public Health recommended a voluntary recall, though a co-owner of the farm told the Times of San Diego that no one had asked Happy Hens to issue one. The farm recalled its organic in-shell eggs on Tuesday, September 8, covering lot codes 223, 226, and 237 with egg handler code CA-0677.

As of September 8, seven of the 23 people had been hospitalized, and no deaths had been reported. State health officials have warned people not to eat, serve, or sell the recalled eggs.

The outbreak raises questions about how salmonella took hold inside the farm’s hen houses and how long contaminated eggs were reaching kitchens. Under the FDA’s egg safety rule, egg producers with 3,000 or more laying hens that do not sell all their eggs directly to consumers must follow Salmonella Enteritidis prevention measures, including environmental testing.

 Public reports have not said how many hens the farm keeps or what testing it conducted. The farm has said it stopped selling eggs from the affected hen houses before the recall, but it is unclear which kitchens received them earlier. The outbreak is also separate from a larger 18-state salmonella outbreak linked to eggs, according to the Times of San Diego.

Liability for Ramona Salmonella Egg Outbreak

Egg producers, distributors, and food businesses all have legal duties to keep contaminated eggs away from consumers. Federal rules require larger egg producers to maintain written Salmonella Enteritidis prevention plans, control pests, test their poultry houses, and keep eggs refrigerated. California holds companies in the distribution chain strictly liable when a contaminated product injures a consumer, so an injured person generally need not prove carelessness. Businesses can also be liable for negligence, such as mishandling raw eggs. These cases often focus on several areas:

• Farm sanitation: Producers must keep hen houses clean, control rodents and pests, and follow biosecurity practices.
• Environmental testing: Testing poultry houses for salmonella can reveal contamination before it reaches eggs sold to the public.
• Raw egg dishes: Restaurants and delis serving raw-egg foods are expected to take precautions, such as using pasteurized eggs.
• Recall decisions: How quickly a company removes contaminated eggs from the market can determine how many people get sick.
• Supply records: Shipping and sales records show which stores and kitchens received eggs from a contaminated source.

Courts have held businesses responsible for contaminated eggs even when they did not cause the contamination. In Koster v. Scotch Associates (1993), a New Jersey trial court considered claims by restaurant customers who contracted Salmonella Enteritidis after dining at the same establishment. Health investigators pointed to a Caesar salad made with raw eggs as the likely source, and the restaurant argued it could not be blamed for eggs it bought from a supplier. The court rejected that argument and held the restaurant strictly liable under the implied warranty of merchantability, the state’s adulterated food law, and its products liability statute. The decision reflects the principle that food sellers answer for safety regardless of where contamination began.

Who Is Most at Risk From Salmonella

Salmonella is among the most common and serious causes of food poisoning. In its current estimates, the CDC reports that salmonella causes about 1.35 million infections in the United States every year and is the leading cause of hospitalizations and deaths linked to foodborne illness. The agency also estimates that only 1 in every 30 salmonella infections is diagnosed, meaning many outbreaks are larger than official counts suggest. Young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems face the greatest risk of serious illness. These steps can help protect your family:

• Get tested: A stool test can confirm salmonella and help health officials connect an illness to an outbreak.
• Check cartons: Recalled eggs are identified by codes on the carton, so keep packaging until you know your eggs are safe.
• Avoid raw eggs: Homemade mayonnaise, dressings, and desserts made with raw eggs carry extra risk unless pasteurized eggs are used.
• Cook thoroughly: Eggs should be cooked until both the yolks and whites are firm.
• Report illness: Telling your doctor and county health department about symptoms helps investigators find the source.

Because eggs are a kitchen staple, contamination at one farm can reach many families quickly. Farm prevention programs, careful restaurant handling, and fast, transparent recalls all keep people safe. When those safeguards fail, sick people are often left with medical bills and weeks of recovery. Victims of foodborne illness have the right to hold producers and sellers accountable. Those who were injured may be entitled to compensation for medical care, lost wages, and the disruption to their daily lives.

Investigating Salmonella Outbreaks in Ramona

We at Feher Law wish a full recovery to the 23 people sickened in the Ramona salmonella outbreak. We hope this outbreak leads to accountability and to stronger safeguards at egg farms and the businesses that rely on them. The illnesses raise safety concerns about how contamination inside hen houses can go undetected. How long were eggs from the contaminated hen houses reaching kitchens and grocery shelves before the recall?

Have you or a loved one been affected by salmonella or another foodborne illness in Ramona or elsewhere in San Diego County? People sickened by contaminated food may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and the time illness takes away from work and family. Farms, distributors, and food businesses each control their own records, and each may blame someone else. Our team of safety advocates and accident investigators can help you understand what happened, from farm inspection findings and supply records to genetic testing results and the accounts of others who got sick. If you need answers to questions about your rights or would like a free, independent investigation, we’re here for you anytime at (424) 433-4412.