The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Tuesday that Oklahoma-based BrucePac has significantly expanded its recall of meat and poultry products due to potential listeria contamination. The recall now includes an additional 1,779,040 pounds of food, bringing the total to over 11.7 million pounds.

This latest expansion notably affects products distributed to schools. While a comprehensive list of affected schools has not yet been released, the FSIS has committed to providing this information as soon as it becomes available.

The initial recall, announced on October 9, covered nearly 10 million pounds of various meat products, including chicken patties, strips, fajita meat, and diced chicken. These items were produced between June 19 and October 8 and distributed nationwide to restaurants and institutions.

Subsequent updates revealed that the recall also impacts ready-to-eat salads and wraps sold at major retailers such as Walmart, Trader Joe’s, and Aldi. Additionally, certain pasta dishes and frozen meals available at Costco and other stores may be affected.

BrucePac, which produces a wide range of meat products including chicken, beef, turkey, and pork for industrial, food service, and retail clients, has not reported any illnesses or adverse reactions related to the recalled products.

Listeria monocytogenes, the bacteria of concern, can cause listeriosis, a serious infection particularly dangerous for pregnant individuals, those over 65, and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, and in some cases, gastrointestinal issues.

This recall comes amid an ongoing investigation into a separate listeria outbreak linked to Boar’s Head deli meats and liverwurst, which has resulted in 10 deaths and 59 illnesses across 19 states over the past three months.

Health officials are particularly concerned about the potential presence of affected products in various establishments, which may have used the contaminated meat in ready-to-eat items now available on store shelves or in consumers’ homes.

Consumers, restaurants, and institutions are strongly advised not to use these products and should either discard them or return them to the place of purchase.
For a comprehensive list of recalled products, including labels, lot codes, and use-by dates, visit the FSIS website at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/food_label_pdf/2024-10/Recall-028-2024-Labels.pdf