Oklahoma’s BrucePac has recalled almost 10 million pounds of its ready-to-eat meat and poultry because of Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced this giant recall that involved 9,986,245 pounds of products on Wednesday. The FSIS, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), put out a public health advisory, advising consumers on the potential hazards of the products in question.
The FSIS called the shots in a public statement on its website and posted the news on its verified X (formerly Twitter) page to make sure that you look in your refrigerators and freezers for the product.
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can produce listeriosis, a serious infection that could be life-threatening in some people. According to the CDC, listeria is usually the disease of older people, immunocompromised individuals, and pregnant women. Pregnant women and newborns are far more susceptible to refractory Listeria illness.
Listeriosis can also cause fever, headache, stiff neck, delusions, balance disturbances and even fits. Diarrhea may be the prelude of more serious symptoms, too. Listeria can send you to the hospital or even kill you if you are immunocompromised or aged or pregnant.
No illnesses related to BrucePac’s products have been identified but BrucePac is recalling the whole lot of product to avoid any damage to consumers. The recall includes several kinds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products that are often purchased in convenience and used in household and commercial settings.
BrucePac is cooperating with the FSIS and other regulatory authorities to remove contaminated products as quickly as possible. The public is being encouraged to immediately throw away any BrucePac they may have, and to look out for symptoms if you think you might have eaten a product containing BrucePac.
The FSIS stated that the products were remanufactured and shipped out to stores and restaurants in multiple states making this a national issue. BrucePac has also provided a consumer hotline number for consumers to call for information about the recall including the complete list of affected products and tips on how to safely dispose of them.
“FSIS,” they continued, reminded us to remain vigilant and look on the packaging of any prepackaged meat and poultry that they bought from BrucePac. Generally, customers are asked to look into their fridges and freezers, especially if they recently purchased items from the company. Those who discover one of the products that have been recalled must throw them away or return them to their store.
The FSIS also stated that while no confirmed cases of listeriosis have been detected in this shipment of BrucePac products, we still need to be careful as listeriosis symptoms can take up to two months to manifest after eating infected food. Listeria thrives in cold environments; in other words, refrigerated products can be infected with the bacteria if repackaged.
Although no disease has been reported, the FSIS and CDC are keeping their fingers crossed that any infections of listeriosis are detected and treated as soon as possible. Health experts had reminded consumers that listeria is rare, but can be lethal, especially in vulnerable populations.
BrucePac and the FSIS advise that people should be extra cautious and report listeria symptoms to their health care providers. In the meantime, health departments across the state are ready for whatever cases arise from the recall.
This is only the latest in a line of food-safety concerns in the United States. In the past few months, the FDA has rolled out multiple recalls, including one for millions of eggs due to contamination issues. This shows how companies, and consumers, need to be increasingly vigilant about food safety standards.
Consumers who may have purchased BrucePac products in the affected batches should immediately dispose of them or bring them back to the retail store. The FSIS released a full list of products affected on its website. Consumers can also contact the BrucePac consumer hotline for questions and concerns about the recalled products.
To learn more please see the FSIS recall alert page or visit BrucePac directly for help.
