United States – A recall of nearly 10 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and chicken products, including Trade Joe’s, Wegman’s, 7-Eleven, and Kroger stores, were affected.
BrucePac Initiates Recall Over Listeria Contamination
BrucePac, a firm that supplies precooked meat and poultry, launched the recall Wednesday following samples of products tested by the Agriculture Department’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, which read Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. Subsequent research established that contaminated products came from the Oklahoma-based ready-to-eat chicken company’s product, BrucePac, and the Agriculture Department has since then given more information and updates on specific products that were affected, as reported by HealthDay.
Affected Brands and Retailers
The food products whose recall has been issued include ready-to-eat salads, burritos, and wraps that contain chicken and possibly bacon or ham. The food items were manufactured from June 19 to Oct.8, according to the Agricultural Department, as mentioned in the communication. The dates for most of these products have gone, but some of the frozen meals, such as Jenny Craig and Michelina’s, are still good for use up to 2025 or 2026.
The other outlets selling the ill foods are Walmart, Meijer, Giant Eagle, Amazon, Target, Aldi some gasoline stations, and corner stores.
There has been no report of any disease or death arising from BrucePac’s consumption of meat.
Consumer Warning and Product Disposal
Other affected products may still be in supermarkets or ice boxes and consumers’ homes, according to the Agriculture Department. It advised companies to refrain from selling any products that may still be on the shelves and consumers to dispose of or return any affected goods that might still be in their possession. BrucePac failed to show consumers whether they would get a refund or whether BrucePac had rebates for its clients.
The company was contacted for a reply but they declined to comment.
BrucePac’s Response and Safety Commitment
In a frequently asked questions page on its website, BrucePac wrote: Hence, our goal and policy is to offer market-safe products of superior quality. We have also formed a close relationship with the USDA so that all relevant steps can be taken to ensure food safety. “We will not be producing cars again until we are sure that this problem is sorted.”
The recall is addressed by an automated recording for those who call the company addresses and the message says, “Your health and wellness matters to us.”
Risks of Listeria Infections
However, listeria infections are most dangerous for elderly persons, those with a damaged immune system, or pregnant women. Listeriosis remains the third leading cause of foodborne illness death, as indicated by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put the incidence rate of listeriosis at 1,600 and the mortality rate at 260 per year.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Most of the signs manifest after about two weeks after consumption of food contaminated with the bacteria, though the onset may start almost instantly or take up to 10 weeks. Some of the symptoms they present are fever, muscle aches, headache, and stiff neck and confusion and loss of balance and convulsions. Listeria can also cause intestinal diseases associated with diarrhea and vomiting.
Diagnosis and management: Some patients may be prescribed antibiotics although some can clear the infection through adequate rest and lots of fluids, as reported by HealthDay.
Previous Listeria Outbreaks
Several listeria outbreaks are recorded each year often due to the contamination of food products with the bacteria. Earlier in July, the Boar’s Head company issued a recall of products worth more than 7 million pounds of deli meats due to suspicions of listeria contamination. That particular outbreak has been associated with nine deaths. Another recall involving cheese products from Rizo Lopez dairy maker resulted in two listeria fatalities and over 20 cases of hospitalization. At the close of the previous week, the federal government directed the company to shut down.