Meal kits sold at Trader Joe’s, Target and Amazon among 10million pounds of meat recalled due to listeria
More than 10million products have been recalled from major retailers, including Trader Joe’s, over fears they are contaminated with listeria.
A nationwide recall has been issued for nearly 10million pounds of meats, mostly chicken, used in ready-to-eat meals sold at Trader Joe’s, Target, Walmart and Amazon.
The recalled items were revealed Monday in a 326-page list, which also included pre-packaged salads and frozen meals from Kroger, H.E.B, and 7/11.
No illnesses or deaths have been reported linked to the meals to date, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) confirmed to DailyMail.com.
Lots of the above salad containing chicken are being recalled amid concerns they could be contaminated with listeria
The two above products, from Trader Joe’s, are also having certain lots recalled over concerns they could be contaminated with listeria
The recall was announced last week, affecting products from Oklahoma-based BrucePac — which is behind a large swathe of ready-to-eat meals.
The recalled foods have best before dates during this month for salads and fresh meals, or up to October next year depending on the product.
Customers are advised to check their products lot codes to establish whether they have been recalled, which are printed on the packaging. The full list of recalled products and codes is revealed here.
It is at least the second major recall to hit the US this year, after Boar’s Head recalled 7million pounds of meat at the end of July because of listeria contamination.
In that outbreak, two people died and at least 13 became seriously ill.
It is not clear how the ready-to-eat meals were contaminated with listeria, but the bacteria may have entered the factory on a product such as an improperly washed chicken breast.
During processing, the bacteria may then have got onto a machine and started to multiply — with this machine spreading it to other chicken breasts.
Consumers have been told to also check products being recalled for the establishment numbers ‘51205’ or ‘P-51205’ which should be either inside the package or just under the USDA inspection mark.
The above pre-packaged salad from Walmart is also part of the recall. Marketside is a brand sold at Walmart
These two pre-prepared salads, sold at Walmart, are also part of the recall
This is alongside a number of products from Target, under the Target-own Good and Gather brand, including this frozen chicken tikka masala
Listeria infections are serious for pregnant women, those older than 65 years or those with weakened immune systems.
People can catch the bacteria by eating contaminated foods, and then tend to suffer symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, vomiting and diarrhea within one to four weeks of infection.
In severe cases, the bacteria can spread to the bloodstream and brain — raising the risk of sepsis and encephalitis, or inflammation and swelling in the brain.
In pregnant women, it can lead to a miscarriage, stillbirth or premature delivery of a newborn.
In healthy adults with no underlying conditions, listeria can cause a short illness that lasts for a few days.
About 1,600 people are infected with listeria in the US every year, according to the CDC, and 260 people die from the infection annually.
In its recall notice, the FSIS said: ‘FSIS is concerned that some product may be available for use in restaurants, institutions and other establishments.
‘These… may be on store shelves or in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers.
‘Restaurants, institutions and other establishments are urged not to serve or use these products. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.’
