WASHINGTON, DC, October 17, 2024 (ENS) – Some 12 million pounds of processed meat and chicken found in salads and frozen foods sold at major retailers and served at restaurants and schools are being recalled over listeria contamination, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, FSIS.
The meat recall includes more than 200 ready-to-eat chicken and turkey products, sold at Aldi, Amazon, Giant Eagle, HEB, Kroger, Target, Trader Joe’s, and Walmart. The brands include Amazon Fresh, Atkins, Boston Market, Jenny Craig, Dole, Michelina’s, Rao’s and Signature Select.
Photos of all items that have been recalled can be found on the Agriculture Department’s extensive product list website.
At least 10 deaths were linked to a listeria outbreak in July and led to Boar’s Head recalling more than seven million pounds of deli meat from outlets across the United States.
Listeria is the third-leading cause of food poisoning deaths in the United States. Symptoms typically appear two weeks after the contaminated food is eaten and include fever, aches, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions, diarrhea or vomiting, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pregnant women, newborn babies, older adults and those with weakened immune systems can experience life-threatening listeria infections.
While there have been no confirmed reports of illness related to the recalled meat products, BrucePac, which produced the pre-cooked meat in Durant, Oklahoma from May 31 to October 8, has suspended operations. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider, the government advises.
The recall was first made public by FSIS on October 9. BrucePac has now released new information about the giant recall and increased the number of items being removed from shelves.
“Details of this release were updated to note the addition of 1,779,040 pounds of product subject to recall, increasing the weight from 9,986,245 to 11,765,285 pounds,” BrucePac wrote Tuesday in an update.
These products were shipped to other establishments and distributors nationwide who then distributed them to restaurants, schools and institutions. The meat producer said it did not have a school list “at this time. Information regarding product labels and the list of products will be provided when it is available, FSIS said.
The products subject to recall bear establishment numbers “51205 or P-51205” inside or under the USDA mark of inspection. FSIS wants to ensure consumers know that some of the recalled products could bear a different establishment number on the label due to further distribution and processing by other establishments.
“After learning that ready-to-eat chicken tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, we stopped production and immediately recalled all products that may have been affected,” BrucePac said in a statement. “We will not resume production until we are confident the issue has been resolved.”
“We are committed to providing safe, high-quality products,” BrucePac posted on its website. “We are working closely with USDA to ensure that all necessary actions are taken to ensure a safe food supply.”
Listeria Causes Serious Infection in Vulnerable People
The problem was discovered after FSIS scientists performed routine testing of finished products containing RTE poultry produced by BrucePac and confirmed that those products tested positive for listeria, scientifically known as L. monocytogenes. Further FSIS investigation has identified BrucePac RTE chicken as the source of the listeria.
Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, as well as pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.
Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract.
In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems.
Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.
FSIS is concerned that some of the recalled products may be available for use in restaurants, institutions, schools and other establishments. These other establishments may have used contaminated meat and poultry in RTE products that may be on store shelves or in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers.
Restaurants, institutions, schools and other establishments are urged not to serve or use these products. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
The list of items impacted by the recall include pre-made salads, frozen foods, burritos containing chicken and other meats, including bacon and ham, which were produced between May 31 and October 8, the USDA says. While some of the products’ expiration dates have passed, frozen food brands – including Michelina’s and Jenny Craig – have longer shelf-lives, lasting until 2025 and 2026.
Retailers such as Walmart Inc., Target Corp., Kroger Co., Raley’s, and Trader Joe’s source private-label prepared meals from BrucePac that are included in the recall. Other brands impacted by the recall include Atkins, Boston Market, Red’s, Taylor Farms, Udi’s and many others.
Reser’s Fine Foods, in Beaverton, Oregon, initiated a recall of several meal kits that may contain the recalled meat. Albertsons Companies of Boise, Idaho, initiated a similar recall of meal kits and store-made deli items, according to the company, as well as products sold under the retailer’s Signature Select private brand.
Featured image: One of more than 200 processed meat and chicken products recalled by the manufacturer, BrucePac, with offices in Oklahoma and Oregon. October 2024 (Photo courtesy U.S. Agriculture Department’s extensive recalled product list website.)
