Nearly 10 million pounds of meat products are being recalled from grocery stores nationwide, including in Wisconsin, due to concerns over listeria, as announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture last week.
This extensive recall affects products from major retailers such as Aldi, Target, Walmart, Trader Joe’s, and 7-Eleven, among others.
The contaminated meat, distributed by BrucePac, an Oklahoma-based producer of pre-cooked meat, was recalled after routine testing detected listeria monocytogenes in its ready-to-eat poultry. Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can lead to the foodborne illness listeria.
As of Monday, the recall encompasses 9,986,245 pounds of meat and poultry products, which include ready-to-eat salads and frozen meals. The USDA published a detailed 326-page document on October 10, listing the names and images of all affected products.
The defective items were produced between June 19, 2024, and October 8, 2024. Most products are marked with establishment numbers 51205 or P-51205 on their packaging, though some may have different numbers due to variations during distribution.
No illnesses have yet been confirmed as a result of consuming the recalled products, according to the USDA. However, the agency recommends consulting a healthcare provider if there are concerns about illness related to any BrucePac items.
More than half of the affected stores are located in Wisconsin. The latest list of retailers carrying the recalled meat products includes:
– Walmart
– Meijer
– Target
– Aldi
– Trader Joe’s
– 7-Eleven
– Wegmans
– Amazon Fresh
– Kroger
– Albertson’s
– Publix
– H-E-B
– Giant Eagle
– Save Mart
Several brands are implicated in this recall, with the USDA continually updating the list. Some of the affected brands include:
– Fresh Express
– Rao’s
– Michael Angelo’s
– Boston Market
– Atkins
– Dole
– Jenny Craig
– El Monterey
– Don Pancho’s
– ReadyMeals
– Amazon Kitchen
– Taylor Farms
– and many others.
If you have purchased any of the recalled meat products, the USDA advises disposing of them or returning them to the store where they were bought. Restaurants and food facilities are also instructed not to serve these items and to either discard them or return them to the distributor.
Listeria infections pose significant health risks, particularly for pregnant individuals, newborns, those over 65, and individuals with compromised immune systems, as noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Symptoms can manifest as early as 24 hours to two weeks after consuming contaminated food and may include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headaches, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures.
While mild cases may resolve with rest and hydration, more severe infections could require antibiotic treatment. The CDC advises anyone experiencing symptoms after consuming the contaminated products to seek medical attention and inform their healthcare provider of the situation. Generally, individuals who have consumed listeria-contaminated food but are not experiencing symptoms do not require medical evaluation.