A company is recalling about 10 million pounds of meat and poultry products made at an Oklahoma factory because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, which can cause illness and death.
Bruce Pack of Woodburn, Ore., recalled about 5,000 tons of ready-to-eat food this week after U.S. Department of Agriculture officials detected Listeria monocytogenes in poultry samples during routine testing. Further testing identified BrucePac chicken as the source. The recall applies to: 75 meat and poultry products.
Food products include products such as grilled chicken breasts manufactured at the company’s facility in Durant, Oklahoma. They were manufactured between June 19 and October 8 and shipped to restaurants, food service providers and other establishments across the country, government officials said.
The expiration date for these products is from June 19, 2025 to October 8, 2025. Officials said they were concerned that the food could still be used or stored in refrigerators and freezers. The product should be discarded, they added.
There are no confirmed reports of illness associated with the recall.
Eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1,600 people in the U.S. become infected with Listeria monocytogenes each year, and about 260 die.
Listeria infections usually cause fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, and may cause stiff shoulders, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. Symptoms may appear immediately or up to 10 weeks after eating contaminated food. This infection is especially dangerous for the elderly, those with weakened immune systems, and those who are pregnant.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Education Media Group. AP is solely responsible for all content.
