(WWJ) Oklahoma-based company, BrucePac, is expanding their already massive meat recall—now recalling nearly 11.8 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products over listeria concerns. The affected products have been distributed to thousands of major retailers across the country, including here in Michigan.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Safety Inspection (FSIS) performed routine testing of the ready-to-eat products earlier this month—and discovered they were positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The company in Durant ultimately recalled 11,765,285 pounds of chicken and other meat based on the FSIS’ findings.
Subsequent FSIS testing revealed the chicken to be the source of the Listeria motocytogenes.
The recalled items were produced between May 31 to October, 8, 2024. They have the establishment number "51205 or P-51205" inside or under the USDA mark of inspection.
No illnesses linked to the recall have been reported as of yet.
The BrucePac products are found under more than three dozen brand names including, but not limited to: 7Eleven, Amazon Fresh, Boston Market, Dole, Home Chef, Jenny Craig, Kroger, Meijer, Trade Joe’s, and Udi’s. See complete list of brand names and labels of over 300 impacted products.
A variety of meals contain the chicken— from frozen dinners, to prepackaged salads and pasta dishes.
In Michigan; the products have been distributed to dozens of locations each of Walmart, Sam’s Club, Meijer, Target, and GFS. Smaller retailers impacted by the recall include some locations of Fresh Thyme, Trader Joe’s, Better Health, Pats and Spartan. You can see if your store is impacted here.
A number of school districts across the state have also received the recalled products, primarily on the west side. None listed are in Metro Detroit.
The FSIS expressed concerns that additional stores, restaurants, stores and other businesses may be selling or serving the BrucePac meat, without knowing of the recall. Any business or person who bought the products is urged not to serve or eat them— and to immediately throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.
The FSIS said serious cases of Listeriosis most commonly affect older adults (65 years and up), people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and newborns.
According to the FSIS; Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, loss of balance and confusion, often following gastrointestinal symptoms. This occurs when an “invasive infection” spreads outside the digestive system. In pregnant women; Listeriosis can cause miscarriages, still births, premature delivery or other complications. The bacteria infection is treated with antibiotics.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); the mortality rate for Listeriosis is about 20%—causing an average of 260 deaths in the United States per year. About 25% of cases in pregnant women result in the loss of the baby, according to the CDC.
Anyone who develops flu like symptoms within two months of eating the recalled food should call their doctor, the FSIS said.
If you have food safety questions, you can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. If you need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.