BrucePac, an Oklahoma-based company, has initiated a recall of nearly 10 million pounds of its ready-to-eat meat and poultry products due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
The recall affects 9,986,245 pounds of products distributed nationwide to restaurants and institutions.
The contamination was identified after routine testing by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which confirmed the presence of Listeria in some of BrucePac’s poultry products.
The FSIS said food adulterated with that bacteria can cause an infection called listeriosis that “primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune system, and pregnant women and their newborns.” Listeriosis can be “rare, but serious,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
People that come down with the infection can potentially experience symptoms such as “fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms,” the FSIS said.
The FSIS has issued a public alert and shared the recall information on its verified social media channels.
“Restaurants, institutions, and other establishments are urged not to serve or use these products. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase,” the FSIS said.
Production of the recalled BrucePac occurred in a 3.5-month span between June 19 and October 8.
“Food safety always has been, and always will be, a top priority,” BrucePac says on its website.
