According to News Week, Hundreds of schools across at least 16 U.S. states may have received food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that can cause severe illness and even death. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced earlier this month that over 11.7 million pounds of “ready-to-eat meat and poultry products” were recalled by manufacturer BrucePac after the bacteria was detected during a routine inspection at a facility in Durant, Oklahoma.
Scope of the Recall
The recalled products were included in prepared meals sold at various grocery stores across more than 20 states. Recently, the USDA released a preliminary list of around 200 schools that had also received these items. The list includes schools in the District of Columbia and states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, Michigan, New York, Iowa, Tennessee, New Jersey, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, West Virginia, and Delaware.
USDA’s Assurance
Importantly, none of the recalled products were purchased or distributed through the USDA’s National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. Instead, schools acquired the food directly from private vendors. As of Monday, it remained unclear whether all contaminated products had been removed from distribution. Fortunately, there have been no confirmed reports of related illnesses as of late last week.
Urgent Warnings from the USDA
The USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) expressed concern that some contaminated products might still be available in restaurants, institutions, schools, and other establishments. They urged these locations to either discard the recalled items or return them immediately.
Brand Names Affected
The potentially contaminated meat was sold under several well-known brand names, including Boston Market, Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, Michelina’s, Dole, Udi’s, H-E-B, Atkins, Ready Meals, Amazon Fresh, Amazon Kitchen, Michael Angelo’s, Good & Gather, and Great Value.
Who Is at Risk?
Young children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems are particularly vulnerable to listeriosis, an infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 260 of the 1,600 annual cases result in death.
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Symptoms of listeriosis can vary. While many infections primarily affect the digestive system, leading to diarrhea and vomiting within 24 hours of consuming contaminated food, a more invasive form can develop within two weeks. Symptoms of this invasive illness include:
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Seizures
The CDC warns that approximately one in 20 people who contract the invasive form of listeriosis without being pregnant may die from the illness. For pregnant individuals, symptoms are often mild or nonexistent; however, invasive illness can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or severe infection in the newborn.
Conclusion
While cases of listeriosis are relatively rare, outbreaks do occur sporadically, prompting food product recalls due to contamination concerns. Earlier this year, a separate outbreak linked to recalled Boar’s Head deli meats resulted in 10 fatalities and at least 59 illnesses, indicating the serious nature of this bacteria.
As the situation develops, the USDA is working to ensure all contaminated products are properly removed from circulation. For ongoing updates, the public is encouraged to monitor announcements from health authorities.
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