BrucePac, a company that produces ready-to-eat meats and poultry foods, has recalled more than 9.9 million pounds of product due to possible listeria contamination, the Agriculture Department announced Wednesday.
The products were distributed nationwide, and USDA officials were concerned that food might still be “available for use in restaurants, institutions, and other establishments” and in consumers’ refrigerators and freezers.
The contamination was discovered by the department’s Food Safety and Inspection Service after a routine product testing of finished BrucePac poultry items, according to the USDA. It was confirmed upon inspection that the products were positive for listeria. Items produced between June 19 and Tuesday are at risk of the listeria outbreak.
Listeria causes listeriosis, the third leading cause of death from food-related illnesses in the United States. Although there have been no reports of adverse effects from the meat products, it can take a few days to well over a month for listeriosis to show symptoms.
Fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, vomiting, diarrhea, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions are all symptoms of the disease. Listeria is especially dangerous for pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.
USDA officials have urged consumers not to use or serve products marked with “establishment numbers ‘51205 or P-51205’ inside or under the USDA mark of inspection” and to see a health care provider if they are concerned about illness.
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BrucePac is the latest company to recall products. In late July, Boar’s Head recalled 7.2 million pounds of product and later closed its facility due to a deadly, widespread listeria outbreak. Boar’s Head items that were recalled were liverwurst, ham, bologna, sausage, and roasted bacon.
So far, there have been 59 hospitalizations and 10 deaths since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention opened an investigation into Boar’s Head in July.