A recent Listeria outbreak has forced meat producer BrucePac to recall more than 10 million pounds of meat and poultry from various grocery stores.
The recall includes hundreds of different ready-to-eat items that were produced between June and October of 2024 and distributed to restaurants and grocery stores. Here’s what you should know.
Department of Food Safety Issues Sweeping Meat Recall
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued the recall on Wednesday October 9 upon discovering a worrisome listeria outbreak. Following the announcement, they provided a 326-page document which includes a comprehensive list of all retailers, products, and brands that are at risk of exposure.
The USDA inspectors found the outbreak while doing a routine test for listeria in BrucePac’s products.
Products and Retailers Impacted by the Recall
Trader Joe’s Target, Walmart, Publix, and Kroger were only a few of the major retailers impacted by the BrucePac recall.
The products that were primarily impacted by the recall are frozen or prepackaged “ready-to-eat” items. Some of the main products included sandwiches, wraps, and salads. Also, some frozen pastas and burritos with chicken in it were recalled. You can find a comprehensive list of products provided by FSIS here.
Some of the brands impacted include the following:
- Rao’s
- Kroger brand
- Trader Joe’s brand
- Dole
- Boston Market
- Jenny Craig
- Amazon Kitchen
Listeria Health Concerns
Listeria can lead to something called listeria poisoning, or listeriosis through food-borne bacterial infections. The bacteria infection can be dangerous and potentially life threatening for older people, those with weaker immune systems, and pregnant women.
According to the Mayo Clinic, initial listeria symptoms include:
- Fever/Chills
- Muscle Aches
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
It is possible that symptoms appear only days after eating the contaminated food but in many cases it may take up to 30 days for symptoms to arise.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues to monitor and research product recalls to ensure the health and safety of consumers.
