Listeria recall grows to 12 million pounds of meat and poultry, some of it sent to US schools

A recall of nearly 12 million pounds of meat and poultry products potentially contaminated with listeria has been expanded to include ready-to-eat meals sent to U.S. schools, restaurants, and major retailers like Costco, Trader Joe’s, Target, Walmart, and Kroger. The affected products, including prepared salads and burritos, were processed at BrucePac’s Durant, Oklahoma plant. While no illnesses have been reported, routine testing found traces of listeria bacteria in samples of BrucePac chicken.

The recall, initiated on October 9, covers foods produced between May 31 and October 8, and includes items sold to school districts and restaurants nationwide. Consumers are urged to check the establishment numbers “51205 or P-51205” inside or under the USDA mark of inspection or check the USDA recall site for specific product details, and to discard or return any potentially contaminated items. Listeria infections can cause serious illness, especially in vulnerable populations such as the elderly, pregnant individuals, and those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms may appear soon after consumption or up to 10 weeks later.

Source: AP News