Listeria Recall Covers 12M Pounds of Meat, Poultry

It includes ready-to-eat meals sent to schools, restaurants, major retailers
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Oct 16, 2024 1:10 PM CDT
Listeria Recall Issued for 12M Pounds of Meat, Poultry
"There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products," the USDA said. "Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider."   (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, File)

A nationwide recall of meat and poultry products potentially contaminated with listeria has expanded to nearly 12 million pounds and now includes ready-to-eat meals sent to US schools, restaurants, and major retailers, federal officials said. The updated recall includes prepared salads, burritos, and other foods sold at stores including Costco, Trader Joe's, Target, Walmart, and Kroger. The meat used in those products was processed at a Durant, Oklahoma, manufacturing plant operated by BrucePac, the AP reports. The company sells precooked meat and poultry to industrial, food service, and retail companies across the country.

Routine testing found potentially dangerous listeria bacteria in samples of BrucePac chicken, officials with the US Agriculture Department said. No illnesses have been confirmed in connection with the recall, USDA officials said. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not launched an outbreak investigation, a spokesperson said. More:

  • The recall, issued on Oct. 9, includes foods produced between May 31 and Oct. 8. The USDA has posted a 342-page list of hundreds of potentially affected foods, including chicken wraps sold at Trader Joe's, chicken burritos sold at Costco, and many types of salads sold at stores such as Target and Walmart.

  • The recalled foods can be identified by establishment numbers "51205 or P-51205" inside or under the USDA mark of inspection. Consumers can search on the USDA recall site to find potentially affected products. Such foods should be thrown away or returned to stores for refunds, officials said.
  • Eating foods contaminated with listeria can cause potentially serious illness. About 1,600 people are infected with listeria bacteria each year in the US and about 260 die, according to the CDC. Listeria infections typically cause fever, muscle aches, and tiredness and may cause stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. Symptoms can occur quickly or up to 10 weeks after eating contaminated food.
  • The same type of bacteria is responsible for an outbreak tied to Boar's Head deli meat that has killed at least 10 people since May.
(More listeria stories.)

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