Pre-cooked meat producer BrucePac has issued a recall of nearly 10 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that can cause serious illness.
The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the recall on Wednesday after routine testing detected the bacteria on BrucePac’s poultry products.
The recall affects approximately 9,986,245 pounds of products, including chicken strips, patties, and diced chicken, as well as beef patties and fajita strips, produced between June 19 and October 8, 2024. These products, shipped nationwide to distributors, restaurants, and other food establishments, may still be available on shelves or stored in refrigerators and freezers. Consumers are advised to check for the establishment numbers “51205” or “P-51205” on packaging and discard or return any affected items.
So far, there have been no confirmed cases of illness linked to the recalled products. However, the USDA is urging caution, as Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious foodborne infection. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal issues, and in severe cases, it can lead to complications such as miscarriage, stillbirth, or death, particularly in vulnerable populations like pregnant individuals, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.
Consumers who believe they may have been exposed to contaminated food and experience flu-like symptoms are encouraged to contact their healthcare provider. Retailers are also advised not to sell the recalled products.
BrucePac’s recall follows an increase in food safety concerns across the industry, with Listeria contamination becoming a frequent issue in various sectors. In a separate case, a California cheese company was recently ordered to cease production after listeria contamination led to several deaths.
The full list of affected BrucePac products is available through the USDA’s FSIS notice.
