They distribute to retail, foodservice, and industrial customers—meaning you could find this product at stores and restaurants you frequent.
Nearly 10 Million Pounds of Meat Recalled Nationwide
Published on Oct. 09, 2024
It’s rare that a recall makes national headlines for the sheer scale of its potential impact. However, similar to the recent Boar’s Head deli meat recall that led to seven million pounds of meat being taken from deli cases, once again today, another company has recalled nearly 10 million pounds of meat and poultry.
In an urgent safety alert published early Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that 9,986,245 pounds of Oregon-based BrucePac’s ready-to-eat meat and chicken were possibly contaminated with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes). The compromised products, which tested positive for L. monocytogenes during a routine inspection by the FSIS, were produced and distributed between June 19, 2024, and October 8, 2024.
The alert reports that the company shipped the products to various distributors and restaurants nationwide, and from their website it appears they supply meat ingredients for ready-to-eat meals such as supermarket salads, frozen pizzas, stir fries, and more.
Among their products, the company’s site says they produce:
- beef “burgers and crumbles, to meatballs, strips and shreds”
- chicken “strips and slices, to shredded, diced, crumbles” and more
- pork that’s “pulled and shredded,” along with “seasoned carnitas, dices, sausage pizza topping, a signature sausage link, or patty”
- turkey, though cuts don’t appear to be specified
- plant-based “crumbles and patties, to meatballs and more.”
Though the recall announcement notes that more information regarding product labels will be provided as it becomes available, it currently states that the recalled items bear the establishment numbers “51205” or “P-51205,” which can be found inside or under the USDA mark of inspection.
At the time of the announcement, there have been no confirmed reports of illness associated with the recall. However, consuming food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause Listeriosis, which can be serious or even life-threatening.
Some people, including seniors, individuals with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and infants, are at heightened risk for developing complications of L. monocytogenes exposure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1,600 people are infected with Listeriosis annually, and 260 people die from their infection. The health authority adds that in the U.S., Listeria is the third-leading cause of death related to foodborne illness.
If you believe you are experiencing symptoms of Listeriosis, it’s important to seek medical care. Symptoms may appear up to two months after eating contaminated food.
“Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract,” writes the FSIS. They note that in pregnant women, consuming foods that are tainted with Listeria can cause “miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn.”
The FSIS warns that the products could still be present in restaurants, on store shelves, or in the homes of consumers. They emphasize that if you believe you have purchased the products, you should throw them away or return them to their place of purchase.
If you have questions on food safety or these particular ready-to-eat products, you can call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or email [email protected]. If you believe you have experienced adverse effects as a result of this recall, you can file a report with the Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System.
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