Major U.S. Retailers Recall Ready-to-Eat Meat, Poultry Products Over Listeria Risk; How dangerous is the infection?

BrucePac, the largest seller of chicken and ready-to-eat meat products in the U.S., has recalled nearly 10 million pounds of items sold at major stores nationwide, including Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, 7-Eleven and Kroger, due to Listeria risk.

According to the Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, the company itself initiated the recall after the products tested tested positive for the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. According to officials, the Oklahoma-based company’s pre-cooked chicken has been touted as the source of the contamination.

The list of recalled items includes prepared salads, burritos and wraps that contain chicken, along with other meats such as bacon or ham. The company says these items were produced between June 19 and October 8 and the expiration dates for most products have already passed.

Other stores that sold potentially contaminated food include Walmart, Meijer, Giant Eagle, Amazon, Target and Aldi, as well as some gas stations and convenience stores.

No illnesses reported

According to officials, there are no meat-related diseases BrucePack So far cases have been reported, but hospitals and clinics have been alerted to check for patients presenting with listeria symptoms.

Some affected products may still be on store shelves or in consumers’ refrigerators or homes, the Agriculture Department said. It has urged businesses not to sell any remaining products that may be affected and has asked consumers to throw away or return any recalled items they may have.

What is listeria??

According to experts, listeriosis is a foodborne illness caused by Listeria monocytogenes Bacteria: Commonly found in nature, especially in soil, groundwater, decaying vegetation, and animal feces.

Doctors say most people get listeriosis from eating contaminated food within one to two weeks, but the incubation period can also be as short as a couple of days or as long as three months. Other names for listeriosis include L. monocytogenes and listeria.

Frozen and ready-to-eat food products have the highest risk of L. monocytogenes contamination, as bacteria can survive and even multiply in low temperatures, including refrigerators and freezers. Bacteria also multiply to dangerous levels during storage. Food that has spoiled develops an unpleasant odor, taste, or change in texture.

Who is most at risk of developing listeria?

Doctors say that although anyone can get listeria, it is not too dangerous for those with a healthy immune system. However, those most at risk of getting very sick or dying include:

Severe listeria infection can spread to the bloodstream or brain and cause life-threatening sepsis, meningitis, or encephalitis. Some symptoms you should be aware of are:

According to experts, the best way to treat listeria is for doctors to prescribe antibiotics to clear the infection from the body. Antibiotics commonly used to treat listeriosis include Bacter-Aid DS® and ampicillin.

If you have mild symptoms, you may not need treatment.