WASHINGTON — Almost 10 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products are under recall over listeria concerns.
BrucePac, of Woodburn, Oregon, produces pre-cooked meat such as chicken, beef, turkey and pork, is recalling roughly 5,000 tons of products over possible listeria contamination. The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the recall Wednesday, labeling it as a "Class I" or "High Risk."
No illnesses related to the recall have been reported, according to the USDA.
The recall includes 75 meat and chicken products.
The foods include products like grilled chicken breast strips that were made at the company's facility in Durant, Oklahoma. They were produced between June 19 and Oct. 8 and shipped to restaurants, food service vendors and other sites nationwide, government officials said.
Some of these recalled products may have been used by restaurants and other establishments, possibly still remaining on store shelves or in consumers' fridges and freezers.
These products can be identified by their establishment numbers, "51205" or "P-51205," which are inside or under the USDA mark of inspection.
The USDA urges restaurants and establishments to not serve or use these recalled products and that they should be thrown away.
BrucePac products were recalled after routine testing by the agency found some ready-to-eat poultry products to be positive for listeria monocytogenes.
Listeria is especially dangerous for the elderly, people who are pregnant, and those with compromised immune systems.
People who do not fall into these groups are unlikely to get very sick from listeria bacteria, according to the CDC. Most experience food poisoning symptoms and recover without treatment.
People who are pregnant usually experience only fever, fatigue and muscle aches, the CDC says, but the illness can cause pregnancy loss or premature birth, and can cause serious illness or death in newborns.
Symptoms for people who are not pregnant include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions, fever and muscle aches.
