A US egg company has made a nationwide recall to 380 million eggs, after a salmonella poisoning outbreak in several states.

Wright County Egg, based in Iowa, recalled about 228 million eggs last week that were distributed under over a dozen different brand names.

The firm is part of DeCoster Farms, a family-run agricultural business.

The Food and Drug Administration says that salmonella outbreaks have increased fourfold since this May. They are looking into the illnesses in the 13 states.

Wright County Egg eggs were linked to illness in three states.

The eggs were sent around the country and packed under Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph's, Boomsma's, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemp brands.

The egg maker is cooperating fully with the FDA investigation and was diverting its eggs to a breaker to pasteurize them to kill any harmful bacteria.

Salmonella poisoning can be deadly to those with weaker immune systems, but no deaths have been reported so far.

Baceria can be passed on from apparently healthy chickens and grows both on the inside and on the outside shell.

Fully cooking the eggs can kill the bacteria, but authorities are recommending throwing away or returning any potentially infected eggs.