### Nationwide Meat Recall: 11.8 Million Pounds of Ready-to-Eat Products Recalled Due to Listeria Contamination
A major nationwide recall is currently taking place due to potential contamination of ready-to-eat meat and poultry items with *Listeria monocytogenes*, a bacterium that poses a serious risk of severe illness and potentially fatal outcomes in at-risk groups. The recall, instituted by BrucePac, a meat supplier located in Durant, Oklahoma, encompasses approximately 11.8 million pounds of products. Although no illnesses have been reported up until now, officials are making efforts to locate the contaminated items and avert any possible outbreaks.
#### The Extent of the Recall
The recall was initiated following routine federal safety inspections that revealed *Listeria monocytogenes* in samples of BrucePac’s poultry goods. The recall was first announced on October 9, 2024, and has since widened as officials strive to ascertain the full scale of the contamination. The implicated products were produced between May 31, 2024, and October 8, 2024, and have been distributed to a diverse assortment of retailers, schools, restaurants, and other establishments across the nation.
BrucePac, in a statement updated on October 15, recognized the difficulty in pinpointing all impacted products, particularly since many of their goods are sold to other companies that repackage them or incorporate them as ingredients in other food items. This adds complexity to the task of tracing contaminated products to consumers.
#### How to Determine If You Have Affected Products
Consumers are advised to inspect their refrigerators and freezers for any possibly contaminated products. The items in question may carry establishment numbers 51205 or P-51205 either within or beneath the USDA inspection mark. However, due to the intricacies of the distribution network, identifying the products may prove challenging. The USDA has published a detailed 342-page document cataloging the impacted products, which are marketed under various brand names, including well-known retailers such as:
– **7-Eleven**
– **Aldi**
– **Amazon Fresh**
– **Giant Eagle**
– **Kroger**
– **Target**
– **Trader Joe’s**
– **Walmart**
– **Wegmans**
Several of the brand names linked to the recall include Atkins, Boston Market, Dole, Fresh Express, Jenny Craig, Michelina’s, and Taylor Farms, among others. Store brands, like Target’s Good & Gather, are also included. Consumers are encouraged to examine the USDA’s list [here](https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/food_label_pdf/2024-10/Recall-028-2024-Labels.pdf) to check if they have any of the recalled items.
#### Effects on Schools and Institutions
Beyond retail channels, some of the recalled products were also distributed to schools, although the USDA has yet to confirm which schools received the contaminated goods. Restaurants and other institutions have also been impacted, complicating the recall efforts further. The USDA and BrucePac are striving to inform all affected entities, but the extensive nature of the recall indicates that it may take considerable time to completely address the risk.
#### Understanding Listeria and Its Threats
This recall follows a similarly extensive *Listeria* contamination concerning Boar’s Head brand meats, which resulted in the largest *Listeria* outbreak in the U.S. in recent years. That outbreak affected at least 59 individuals across 19 states, resulting in 10 fatalities. The Boar’s Head recall was associated with widespread sanitation problems at the company’s plant in Jarratt, Virginia, which has since been closed.
While no illnesses have been definitively connected to BrucePac’s products as of now, *Listeria* infections can be hard to detect and trace. The incubation period for *Listeria* can vary widely, from a few days to as much as 10 weeks, complicating efforts to identify the source of an infection. Common symptoms of *Listeria* infection can include:
– Fever
– Muscle aches
– Fatigue
– Headache
– Stiff neck
– Confusion
– Loss of balance
– Seizures
For most healthy individuals, *Listeria* infections may lead to mild and transient gastrointestinal symptoms that could go unnoticed. However, the illness can be significantly more serious for specific demographic groups, such as:
– **Older adults (65 and older)**
– **Pregnant women**
– **Individuals with weakened immune systems**
In these high-risk groups, *Listeria* can lead to invasive infections, resulting in potentially life-threatening issues. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable, as *Listeria* infections can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, or severe sickness in newborns. Invasive *Listeria* infections carry a high mortality rate, with nearly 1 in 6 affected individuals succumbing to the illness.
#### What Should Consumers Do?
Consumers who suspect they
