Even Public Schools Are Being Affected By This Massive Meat Recall
Public health authorities are urging Americans to check their fridges and freezers after a major recall has expanded to 11.76 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products, following concerns over listeria contamination. The recall, which affects BrucePac products, includes items sold at grocery stores, restaurants, schools, and other institutions across the country, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
Expanded Recall and Affected Brands
BrucePac, an Oregon-based company specializing in pre-cooked proteins, initially recalled 9 million pounds of its products last week, but on Oct. 15, the recall was expanded by over a million pounds. The total now includes 11,765,285 pounds of meat and poultry items that were shipped nationwide. The recalled products include salads, wraps, burritos, pasta bowls, enchiladas, and a wide variety of ready-to-eat meals from brands like Fresh Express, Boston Market, Rao’s, Atkins, Dole, and Home Chef.
These products were sold at major retailers including Costco, Target, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Kroger, H-E-B, and many others. Some items were also distributed to U.S. schools, though the USDA has not yet released a detailed distribution list.
Health Risks: What You Need to Know
The FSIS detected the contamination through routine testing, which identified BrucePac poultry as the source of listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that can cause a serious infection known as listeriosis. While there have been no confirmed cases of illness linked to this recall, listeriosis is particularly dangerous for pregnant individuals, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.
Symptoms can range from flu-like symptoms, fever, muscle aches, and nausea to more severe issues like stiff neck, confusion, and loss of balance. In some cases, symptoms may appear as soon as one day after exposure, but they could also take up to 70 days to develop.
What Consumers Should Do
Consumers are advised to check their products for the establishment numbers "51205 or P-51205" within the USDA inspection mark. However, BrucePac warns that because they sell to other companies that may repackage their items, some recalled products may not carry this number directly. A full list of recalled items can be found on the USDA website, which is currently 345 pages long.
Authorities stress that the safest option is to discard any recalled products. The USDA also urges restaurants, schools, and institutions to review their stocks and remove any potentially contaminated items immediately.
BrucePac is working with the USDA to resolve the issue and has suspended production until the contamination is fully addressed.
Seeking Help and Additional Information
If you believe you’ve consumed a recalled product and experience symptoms of listeriosis, seek medical attention immediately. You can also reach out to the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 or via email at MPHotline@usda.gov for food safety concerns.
What To Avoid
Given the scope of the BrucePac recall, the affected products span across hundreds of items from multiple brands sold at various retailers. Here's a comprehensive breakdown of the product categories, brands, and stores involved in the recall. Since the USDA maintains a 345-page list of all recalled products, this summary highlights the major categories and brands most likely impacted:
Product Categories Affected
- Prepared Meals:
- Salads, wraps, pasta bowls, burritos, enchiladas, and other frozen or ready-to-eat meals
- Cooked Poultry and Meat Products:
- Chicken nuggets, pre-cooked chicken, sausages, deli meats, and other poultry and meat products
- Frozen and Family Meals:
- Heat-and-serve meals, organic and gluten-free options
Brands Impacted
- Fresh Express
- Rao’s
- Boston Market
- Atkins
- Dole
- ReadyMeals
- Taylor Farms
- Home Chef
- Signature Select
Major Retailers Selling Recalled Items
- Costco
- Trader Joe’s
- Walmart
- Kroger
- Target
- H-E-B
- Aldi
- Amazon Fresh
- Giant Eagle
- Meijer
- Publix
- Wegmans
- 7-Eleven
Establishment Numbers to Look For
- Look for establishment numbers “51205” or “P-51205” either inside or beneath the USDA inspection mark on the packaging. This is the most direct way to identify if your products are part of the recall.
Notable Product Examples
- Chicken Nuggets: Organic gluten-free chicken breast nuggets
- Pre-cooked Chicken: Packaged pre-cooked chicken sold to various grocery chains
- Wraps and Burritos: Heat-and-serve wraps sold under multiple brand names
- Family Meals: Packaged family-sized meals containing poultry or meat
Products Distributed to Schools
While specific details on which products were distributed to schools have not yet been released, it is important for institutions to regularly check the USDA recall list and monitor updates for further instructions.
For a detailed list of every product affected, consumers are advised to use the search function on the USDA website, which allows for checking individual items, stores, and brands. The list will continue to be updated as new information becomes available.
BrucePac Ready-To-Eat Meats Recall
Gallery Credit: Tammie Toren
Walmart & Trader Joe's Recalled Items
Gallery Credit: Kyle Matthews
Milk Recall: Lactaid milk being recalled in multiple U.S. states
Gallery Credit: Courtesy: FDA.gov