USDA names schools likely to be affected by recall of 11.7 million pounds of meat and poultry for listeria concerns | CNN

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the recall of ready-to-eat meat and poultry items made by Brucepack included approximately 1.8 million additional pounds of product, for a total of more than 11.7 million pounds of product recalled for possible listeria contamination. Food Safety and Inspection Service Dr.

The products were distributed to restaurants and establishments nationwide, including ready-to-eat items that are “on store shelves or in consumers' refrigerators or freezers,” the company said. It has released an initial list of schools accepting the products in Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District. of Colombia.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service discovered the problem during routine product testing of finished poultry products, the agency said. Brewpack ready-to-eat chicken was identified as the source of Listeria bacteria, which may have affected other ready-to-eat meat and poultry items produced in Durante, Oklahoma, from May 31 to October 8.

Listeria causes listeriosis, the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States. Symptoms may include fever, muscle aches and fatigue. An infection can cause neck stiffness, headache, confusion or seizures. Those most at risk for serious outcomes are older adults, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.

There have been no confirmed reports of illness linked to the products, but some people who get sick recover without being tested for listeria, and it usually takes weeks for an illness to be linked to an outbreak.

“We are committed to providing safe, high-quality products,” says Brucepack “We are working closely with the USDA to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to ensure a safe food supply. We will not resume production until we are sure that the issue has been resolved.”

The Food Safety and Inspection Service says it is continuing to gather information on the matter. Anyone with questions about the recall can contact BrucePack at 503-874-3000. Consumers with questions about food safety can call the USDA at 888-674-6854.

The recall is linked to a deadly listeria outbreak linked to Boar's Head deli meats, the nation's largest in more than a decade. There have been 59 hospitalizations and 10 deaths since the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began investigating in July.