A significant recall of nearly ten million pounds of ready-to-eat poultry and meat items from BrucePac has been expanded to include products available at Trader Joe’s and other grocery retailers due to listeria concerns.
The recall was first disclosed by the Food Service Inspection Service on Tuesday, encompassing 9,986,245 pounds of various ready-to-eat meat and poultry products from the BrucePac facility in Oklahoma. The items include grilled chicken breast strips, chicken within frozen meals, as well as pre-packaged salads and sandwiches, which were distributed to restaurants and food service vendors across the nation.
This recall was prompted by the discovery of listeria in poultry samples during routine testing conducted by officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In total, approximately 75 different meat and chicken products are included in the recall. A comprehensive list of item codes is available for consumers.
The affected products were manufactured between June 19 and October 8 and distributed to various locations across the country. They bear best-by dates ranging from June 19, 2025, to October 8, 2025. Officials have expressed concern that some of these products may still be in circulation or stored in home refrigerators or freezers, urging consumers to discard them.
To date, there have been no confirmed cases of illness associated with this recall.
The FSIS has indicated that the affected items include frozen meals under the H-E-B brand, HMS chicken alfredo, and pre-made salads featuring chicken sold under labels including “Fresh Express,” “Marketside,” and “Little Salad Bar.”
Notably, at least three items from the recall were available at Trader Joe’s, specifically the Turkey Club Wrap, Lemon and Chicken Arugula Salad, and the Tarragon Chicken Wrap.
Listeria infections can lead to fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, alongside potentially severe symptoms like a stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. Symptoms may surface within hours or up to ten weeks after consuming contaminated food, posing heightened risks for older adults, those with compromised immune systems, and pregnant individuals.
This recall follows the recent report of a 10th death linked to a substantial listeria recall involving Boars Head deli meats, which has resulted in at least 59 illnesses across 19 states and closed a processing facility in Virginia.