Almost 10 million pounds of meat recalled over listeria concerns.

 Almost 10 million pounds of meat recalled over listeria concerns.

BrucePac, a producer of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products, has recalled over 9.9 million pounds due to potential listeria contamination, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Wednesday. The recall affects numerous items distributed to restaurants and institutions nationwide, which may also be present in consumer refrigerators and freezers.

 

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service detected the issue during routine testing of finished poultry products, identifying BrucePac's ready-to-eat chicken as the source of the listeria. The affected items were produced between June 19 and October 8.

 

Listeria can cause listeriosis, the third leading cause of death from foodborne illnesses in the U.S. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, with severe cases potentially leading to a stiff neck, headache, confusion, or seizures. High-risk groups include older adults, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems. While the USDA reported no confirmed adverse reactions linked to these products so far, illnesses can take weeks to connect to an outbreak, and symptoms may not appear for up to 10 weeks.

 

The USDA advises restaurants and institutions not to serve these products and recommends discarding or returning them to the place of purchase. Individuals concerned about illness should contact a healthcare provider.

 

This recall follows a serious listeria outbreak linked to recalled Boar’s Head deli meat, which has resulted in 59 hospitalizations and 10 deaths since the CDC began its investigation in July.