BrucePac, a maker of pre-cooked meats, has launched a recall for nearly 10 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products due to the risk of listeria contamination, as announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Wednesday.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) revealed that about 9,986,245 pounds of these products are affected after routine testing detected Listeria monocytogenes in BrucePac’s ready-to-eat poultry items. Consuming food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can lead to a listeriosis infection.

The potentially hazardous products were distributed to various outlets across the nation, including restaurants and other food services. Since some of the affected foods were produced as recently as October 8, there is a chance they are still in consumers’ fridges and freezers, or are found on store shelves and in restaurants, per the FSIS warning.

Here’s what you need to know about the recall.

Which BrucePac products are being recalled?

All ready-to-eat meat and poultry products produced between June 19, 2024, and October 8, 2024, that have establishment numbers “51205 or P-51205” on their packaging are part of the recall.

As of now, BrucePac and the USDA have not provided a complete list of the items involved. However, the USDA has identified ready-to-eat chicken products as the source of the Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

What should you do if you have a recalled product?

The USDA recommends that anyone who has bought these recalled products should not consume them. Instead, you should dispose of them or return them to where you bought them. Retailers are also urged to refrain from selling these recalled items and to either dispose of or return them.

While there have been no reported cases of illness due to these specific products, anyone worried about potential health effects should consult their healthcare provider.

Symptoms of listeriosis or listeria poisoning

Listeriosis is a serious foodborne bacterial infection most often caused by Listeria monocytogenes. It poses significant health risks, particularly for older adults, individuals with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women.

Symptoms to watch for, per the USDA:

• Fever
• Muscle aches
• Headache
• Stiff neck
• Confusion
• Loss of balance
• Convulsions
• Diarrhea
• Other gastrointestinal issues
• Potential miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, and/or severe infection in newborns
• Death

Individuals who are at heightened risk and experience flu-like symptoms within two months after consuming contaminated food should seek medical attention and inform their healthcare provider about their consumption of the contaminated items, the USDA advises.