Nearly 10 million pounds of meat recalled due to listeria concerns

BrucePac, a producer of ready-to-eat meat and poultry items, has initiated a recall of more than 9.9 million pounds of products due to possible listeria contamination. The recall affects various products distributed nationwide to restaurants and institutions. These items may still be present in consumers' homes or available to establishments for use. The issue was discovered during routine testing of finished poultry products, with BrucePac's ready-to-eat chicken identified as the contamination source, potentially impacting items produced from June 19 to October 8.

Listeria, the bacteria in question, is known for causing listeriosis, which ranks as the third leading cause of death from foodborne illnesses in the U.S. Symptoms can range from fever and fatigue to severe conditions like stiff neck and seizures, primarily affecting older adults, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Currently, there are no confirmed adverse reactions from the consumption of these products, though it can take up to 10 weeks for symptoms to appear, complicating the link to the source. The public is advised to discard or return these products and consult healthcare providers if concerned about possible illness.

This recall follows a significant listeria outbreak linked to another company's deli meat, which has resulted in numerous hospitalizations and deaths since its investigation began earlier this year.