The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week upgraded the classification of an egg recall affecting Tennessee and four other states to Level I, a classification that places the recall at the highest level available to the agency.

The FDA defines a Class I recall as “a situation in which there is a reasonable likelihood that use of or exposure to an infringing product will result in serious health consequences or death.”

The recall relates to a November 27 FDA recall announcement for Handsome Brook Farms Kirkland brand Signature Organic Pasture Raised 24-Count Eggs. The eggs may be contaminated with salmonella, which in rare cases can enter the bloodstream and cause serious illness, even fatal infections, in young children, the elderly and people with weak immune systems. In healthy people, fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain may occur.

The eggs have a UPC of 9661910680 and feature the Kirkland Signature label on the top. The recall applies only to devices with Julian code 327 and an expiration date of January 5, 2025 on the side of the box. Anyone in possession of the affected products is asked to return to their local Costco store immediately.

The eggs were sold in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.