An Iowa egg producer announced a voluntary recall of 288 million eggs affecting eight states due to a spike in reported Salmonella cases.

The Centers for Disease Control traced the salmonella outbreaks to Wright County Egg in Galt, Iowa. The CDC said it received four times the normal number of Salmonella reports during the months of June and July.

At least 270 people have fallen ill from consuming contaminated eggs.

The eight states affected by the recall are California, Illinois, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa.

The eggs in question are distributed under the brand names: Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph's, Boomsma's, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps.

Iowa is the top egg-producing state in the country.

Update (8/19): The recall has expanded to 380 Million Eggs and more details are emerging about the company behind the recall. The NY Times reports:

Wright County Egg, of Galt, Iowa, is owned by Jack DeCoster, who has had run-ins with regulators over poor or unsafe working conditions, environmental violations, the harassment of workers and the hiring of illegal immigrants.

Bye-Bye Battery Cages

Also in egg news: Ohio, the second largest egg-producing state, has passed an agreement that will make many chickens very clucking happy.

Advocates gathered enough signatures to put a moratorium on battery cages for chickens and a fazing-out of other such extreme confining structures over the next seven to 15 years.

Governor Ted Strickland brokered the deal to allegedly avoid a messy referendum on the issue in the November elections.

Read More:

• Salmonella in eggs sickens 7 in Minn. (Minnesota Public Radio)
• Salmonella Enteritidis Outbreak in Shell Eggs (FDA)
• Factory farm accord means change ahead (United Press)
• Egg Recall Expanded After Salmonella Outbreak (NY Times)