Expansion of BrucePac Meat Recall Involves Nearly 12 Million Pounds
Food safety authorities have expanded a significant recall involving BrucePac, a prominent meat producer based in Durant, Oklahoma. This recall has now reached almost 12 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products, prompted by potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Previously, the company had recalled more than 9 million pounds of food items the prior week.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued an announcement on October 15, highlighting new developments in the recall first initiated on October 9. These updates included the inclusion of additional products and production dates, with a particular note that certain items had been distributed to schools across the United States.
“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,” the agency stated. “This recall release has also been updated to reflect that recalled products were also distributed to schools. A school distribution list is not available at this time.”
Affected Retailers and Products
The expanded recall now encompasses hundreds of items, including prepared salads, burritos, and other food products offered by various retailers such as Costco, Trader Joe’s, Target, Walmart, and Kroger. Initially, BrucePac’s recall included approximately 9,986,245 pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry goods produced from June 19, 2024, to October 8, 2024, as per the FSIS’s prior announcement. The issue was identified following the FSIS’s routine testing of finished poultry products, which returned positive results for Listeria monocytogenes.
This bacterium has been associated with serious health conditions. Efforts to trace the origin of the contamination pointed to BrucePac’s ready-to-eat chicken products. Fortunately, there have been no confirmed illnesses attributed to the consumption of these products thus far.
Product Identification and Consumer Guidance
Items subject to the October 9 recall bear the establishment numbers “51205 or P-51205” visible inside or beneath the USDA mark of inspection. A full list of these recalled items is available online for consumer reference. In an October 11 update, FSIS officials cautioned that some products might display different establishment numbers due to redistribution and processing by other facilities.
“Consumers are urged to carefully review the information, including the product and label information, included in the BrucePac Ready-to-Eat Meat and Poultry Recall Press Release,” the agency advised.
ABC News attempted to contact BrucePac for a comment regarding the recall but did not receive a response.
Understanding Listeria Contamination and Health Implications
Consumption of food tainted with Listeria monocytogenes can result in listeriosis, a rare but grave infection. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), listeriosis can develop into invasive listeriosis when the bacteria extend beyond the gastrointestinal tract to infect other body parts.
Indicators of severe illness typically commence one to four weeks post-consumption of the affected food. However, symptoms can emerge as soon as the day of consumption or as late as 70 days later. The CDC estimates around 1,600 annual cases of listeriosis in the U.S., with approximately 260 fatalities.
Populations at Increased Risk
Groups at elevated risk include pregnant women, newborns, adults 65 years or older, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Non-pregnant affected individuals may experience symptoms like fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, stiff neck, confusion, or balance loss. Pregnant individuals, however, generally present with fever and flu-like symptoms.
To mitigate this risk, the CDC recommends that susceptible populations avoid consuming deli-sliced meats unless heated to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit or until steaming hot right before serving. Should symptoms of listeriosis occur after consuming deli-sliced meat, consulting a healthcare provider is advisable.
Listeria recall expands to nearly 12 million pounds of meat, affecting U.S. schools originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com.