BrucePac Recalls 10 Mln Pounds Of RTE Meat, Poultry Products

(RTTNews) - Durant, Oklahoma-based BrucePac is recalling around 9,986,245 pounds of ready-to-eat or RTE meat and poultry products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service or FSIS announced.

These impacted products bear establishment numbers "51205 or P-51205" inside or under the USDA mark of inspection. The ready-to-eat meat and poultry items were produced from June 19 to October 8.

They were shipped to other establishments and distributors across the United States, then distributed to restaurants and institutions.

The recall was initiated after the FSIS discovered the issue during its routine product testing of finished product containing RTE poultry products produced by BrucePac. The agency confirmed that those products were positive for Listeria monocytogenes. FSIS, in its investigation, identified BrucePac RTE chicken as the source of the Listeria monocytogenes.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause listeriosis, a serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, while Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

However, there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products so far.

Over concern that some product may be available for use in restaurants, institutions, and other establishments, the agency urged them not to serve or use these products, and to throw away them or return to the place of purchase.

In similar issues related to Listeria monocytogenes, River Falls, Wisconsin-based Jack and the Green Sprouts, Inc. earlier this week called back its 5 ounce packages of Alfalfa and Alfalfa Onion sprouts.

Further, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in August said six people have died and 14 others were hospitalized due to the latest multi-state outbreak of Listeria linked to meats sliced at Delis. It was the largest listeriosis outbreak since the 2011 outbreak linked to cantaloupe.

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