Major Retailers Caught in Widespread Ready-to-Eat Meal Recall: What’s the Risk?

Text "Product Recall" on torn brown paper.

In a nationwide food safety scare, major retailers have recalled millions of ready-to-eat meals over Listeria concerns.

At a Glance

  • BrucePac recalls nearly 12 million pounds of products due to potential Listeria.
  • Affected products were sold from May 31, 2024, to October 8, 2024.
  • Major retailers like Amazon, Costco, and Walmart involved in the recall.
  • No illnesses reported yet; consumers urged to discard affected products.

BrucePac’s Massive Recall

BrucePac, a meat and poultry processing facility, is recalling almost 12 million pounds of ready-to-eat meals. The recall follows routine testing by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, which discovered potential Listeria contamination in products distributed to major retailers, including Amazon, Costco, Walmart, and Trader Joe’s.

This recall affects products processed between May 31 and October 8, 2024. The products bear establishment numbers “51205” and “P-51205” under the USDA mark of inspection, which consumers can use to identify and return or discard contaminated food items.

Health Risks and Symptoms

Although no illnesses have been reported, Listeria poses significant risks, particularly to vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems. Symptoms like fever, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal issues can occur immediately or up to ten weeks post-exposure. Consumers are advised to contact healthcare providers if symptoms arise.

“We are committed to providing safe, high-quality products. We are working closely with USDA to ensure that all necessary actions are taken to ensure a safe food supply. We will not resume production until we are confident the issue has been resolved.”

Listeria is a hardy pathogen capable of surviving in various conditions, including the cold temperatures of refrigerators, complicating control efforts. This characteristic emphasizes the importance of discarding or returning any contaminated product to prevent potential health issues.

Retailers and Consumer Guidance

Retailers like 7-Eleven, Kroger, Wegmans, Target, and Amazon Fresh also participate in the recall. These companies have been proactive, alerting consumers and halting sales of affected products. The USDA has released a detailed 345-page list of recalled items, which they encourage consumers to review to ascertain if any purchased products are affected.

“Because we sell to other companies who resell, repackage, or use our products as ingredients in other foods, we do not have a list of retail products that contain our recalled items,” the company said in a statement, adding that the best way for people to identify contaminated products is through the USDA website or by calling the company or retailer from which they got the package.

The USDA is providing a hotline for food safety questions and is urging anyone who encounters contaminated products or falls ill to report their experiences. This recall follows other recent events related to Listeria, including a notable instance involving Boar’s Head deli meats. Authorities continue monitoring the situation to prevent further risk to public health.

Sources

1. Nearly 12 million pounds of ready-to-eat chicken products recalled over listeria risk

2. Millions of pounds of meat are being recalled. Here’s what to look for in your fridge

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