According to News Week, A recall involving nearly 10 million pounds of meat and chicken products has expanded to include store brands from some of the largest grocery chains in the United States due to fears of potential listeria contamination.
Originally targeting lesser-known labels, this recall now encompasses well-known retailers and popular brand names such as Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, Publix, H-E-B, Target, Meijer, Amazon Fresh, Aldi, Trader Joe’s, and others.
Source of Contamination
The expanded recall follows the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service’s confirmation of listeria contamination at a BrucePac facility in Durant, Oklahoma. Detected in ready-to-eat chicken products, this contamination prompted a widespread recall. BrucePac, based in Oregon, supplies meat and poultry products to various brands and retailers, many of which incorporate these products into prepared foods.
What Products Are Included in the Recall?
As of Sunday, the recall list has grown to include a wide array of items, detailed in a 203-page PDF naming the affected products. Most of the items are ready-to-eat salads with a “best by” date of October 13 or earlier. Additionally, some frozen foods—such as those sold under the Great Value (Walmart), Boston Market, H-E-B, and El Monterey brands—are also included.
How Dangerous Is Listeria?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), listeria is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illnesses in the United States, responsible for approximately 1,600 cases of food poisoning annually, resulting in around 260 fatalities. Symptoms of listeria infection can appear shortly after exposure or may take up to 10 weeks to manifest, complicating efforts to trace the source of contamination.
Symptoms can vary depending on the individual and the site of infection. In most cases, the bacteria remain in the gut, leading to common food poisoning symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. Typically, these symptoms begin within 24 hours of consuming contaminated food and can last for one to three days.
Earlier this year, Boar’s Head deli meat products were voluntarily recalled due to listeria contamination, resulting in 59 hospitalizations and 10 deaths.
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Listeria Recall: Full List of Stores Affected
As of now, no illnesses have been reported in connection to the BrucePac products, but consumers with recalled items are urged to return them to the store for a full refund. Here’s a comprehensive list of the retail chains affected:
- Walmart: Marketside and Great Value
- Kroger: Kroger store brand, including Ralphs, Dillon’s, and King Soopers
- Publix: Publix Deli Chicken Street Taco Kit (best by dates of June 24 through October 16)
- Albertsons: Signature Select (includes all chains owned by Albertsons, such as Safeway and Vons)
- Costco: Red’s Mini Burritos
- Meijer: Meijer ready-to-eat salads
- Amazon Fresh: Amazon Fresh brand ready-to-eat and frozen dishes
- Aldi: Little Salad Bar ready-to-eat salads and Fusia
- Giant Eagle: Giant Eagle brand salads
- Target: Good & Gather ready-to-eat salads and frozen meals
- Trader Joe’s: Trader Joe’s ready-to-eat salads and frozen meals
- Burrito 28: Chicken Quesadilla, Chicken Street Taco, Chicken Burrito Bowl, Green Chile Chicken Enchilada express meal kits
- Don Pancho’s: Chicken Quesadilla, Chicken Street Taco, Green Chile Chicken Enchilada express meal kits (posted to the FDA site)
- Dole: Ready-to-eat salads
Among the frozen foods impacted, the following stores are affected:
- H-E-B: Three H-E-B frozen chicken meals
- El Monterey: Chicken Enchilada meal, Spicy Chipotle Chicken Bowl, and Chicken and Cheese Taquitos
- Udi’s Gluten Free
- Atkins
- Boston Market
- Eat! Asian Style
- Gordon Choice
- Jenny Craig
- Michael Angelo’s
- Michelina’s
- Rao’s
- Whitson’s Culinary Group
Consumers are advised to check their pantry and freezers for any products included in this recall to ensure their safety.
