A significant recall of meat and poultry items, which may be contaminated with listeria, has now grown to include nearly 12 million pounds of products, affecting ready-to-eat meals distributed to schools, eateries, and major supermarket chains across the United States.
The revision of the recall comprises prepared salads, burritos, and an assortment of other food items available at retailers such as Costco, Trader Joe’s, Target, Walmart, and Kroger. The meat ingredients in these products were processed at a manufacturing facility in Durant, Oklahoma, managed by BrucePac. This company, based in Woodburn, Oregon, supplies precooked meat and poultry to industrial, food service, and retail sectors nationwide.
Federal officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that routine tests discovered the presence of listeria bacteria in samples of chicken produced by BrucePac. Notably, there have been no reported illnesses linked to this recall, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not initiated an investigation into outbreaks associated with this issue, according to a representative.
The recall was announced on October 9, covering products manufactured between May 31 and October 8. The USDA has provided a comprehensive 342-page listing that details numerous potentially impacted items, including chicken wraps sold at Trader Joe’s, burritos at Costco, and various salads available at Target and Walmart. In addition to grocery outlets, these products were also shipped to school districts and restaurants nationwide.
Consumers can identify the recalled items by looking for establishment numbers “51205 or P-51205” located either inside or beneath the USDA inspection mark. Officials advise that any such products should be discarded or returned to stores for reimbursement.
Consuming food contaminated with listeria poses serious health risks. The CDC estimates that around 1,600 individuals are infected with listeria bacteria each year in the U.S., resulting in approximately 260 fatalities.
Symptoms of listeria infections typically include fever, muscle aches, and fatigue. More severe effects can manifest as a stiff neck, confusion, imbalance, and convulsions. Symptoms may develop rapidly or could appear up to 10 weeks after consuming tainted food. This illness is particularly hazardous for the elderly, individuals with compromised immune systems, and pregnant women.
The strain of bacteria at play in this situation is responsible for a recent outbreak linked to Boar’s Head deli meats that has claimed the lives of at least 10 individuals since May.