BrucePac Recalls Nearly 10 Million Pounds of Meat

The United States Department of Agriculture has announced a recall of almost 10 million pounds of meat and poultry produced by BrucePac, which makes pre-cooked meat, due to concerns that it is contaminated with listeria monocytogenes. A routine test found evidence of the listeria on BrucePac’s product and, importantly, when consumed, contaminated meat can result in a listeriosis. This recall impacts many grocery stores around the country, including Trader Joe’s, Aldi, Amazon, Target, Public, and Walmart. If you developed listeria after eating meat, you may have a claim and should call the trustworthy Chicago-based food safety lawyers of Moll Law Group. We represent clients nationwide and billions have been recovered in cases with which we’ve been involved.

Call Moll Law Group About Your Listeria Claim

At first, the USDA and BrucePac warned that about  9,986,245 pounds of meat and poultry that were being recalled. These products had gone to distributors, stores, and restaurants around the country. The USDA has since released a 326-page list of the affected food items, brands, and particular retailers. According to the list, the meats are sold not only individually but are also included in various pre-packaged food items, like frozen food and like salads, sandwiches, and wraps, which are the primary preparations that have been impacted. With affected products, you’ll see establishment numbers “51205” or “P-51205” inside or under a USDA mark of inspection.

Some of the stores affected by the recall are Albertson’s, Kroger, Walmart, Publix, Target, Amazon Fresh, Aldi, Trader Joe’s, 7-Eleven, Meijer, H-E-B, Giant Eagle, Save Mart, and Wegmans. Products affected include Rao’s, Fresh Express, Michael Angelo’s, Dole, Atkins, Jenny Craig, Amazon Kitchen, Taylor Farms, Giant Eagle brand, El Monterey, Don Pancho’s, Ready Meals, Kroger brand, H-E-B brand, RaceTrac brand, Raley’s, Home Chef, Meijer brand, Trader Joe’s brand, Wegman’s brand Udi’s, Red’s, Great Value, Gordon Choice, Good & Gather, Michelina’s, Little Salad Bar, Signature Select, Amazon Fresh, Marketside, Whitson’s Culinary Group, and Contessa Premium Foods. If you’ve bought these products but not consumed them yet, the USDA advises not to eat them and either throw them out or return them to where you bought them. Retailers are advised similarly. It’s important to look closely at the labels as the meat may have been processed elsewhere.

Nobody has reported an adverse reaction yet, but if you are concerned about illness, you should call your doctor—when you’re high risk and have flu-like symptoms within 10 weeks of eating a contaminated food item, it’s important to let your health care provider know you ate contaminated food. It’s important to be aware that listeriosis from contaminated food is a serious bacterial infection. Listeriosis can be life-threatening or injurious, in particular, to those with weak immune systems, pregnant people, and older people. Symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, muscle aches, convulsions, loss of balance, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal issues. A pregnant woman who develops this infection can miscarry or suffer premature delivery or a stillbirth. The treatment is antibiotics.

When food is contaminated and causes illness, it can be appropriate for an injured or sickened consumer to bring a product liability lawsuit to allege a defect in the food. Defects may be design, marketing, or manufacturing based. In this case, since the harm involves contamination and infection arising out of manufactured meat, it is most likely to be considered a manufacturing defect.

If you are made sick by listeria-contaminated BrucePac meat, you should consult the knowledgeable Chicago-based food safety lawyers of Moll Law Group to see whether you have a viable claim for relief. Please complete our online form or call us at 312.462.1700.