Throw Away That Bacon, Sausage and Other Meat, Says USDA
The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is urging consumers to check their pantries, refrigerators and freezers to make sure they are free of any of the approximately 87,00 pounds of various ready-to-eat meat products that may be contaminated bacteria.
Why is the meat being recalled?
During a scheduled inspection of the Behrmann Meat and Processing Inc. in Albers, Illinois , FSIS officials found Listeria monocytogenes both at the processing plant and in some products leaving it. To date, there have been no confirmed reports of illnesses associated with eating the recalled meat.
The Listeria monocytogenes bacteria found in meat can cause listeriosis , an infection that is especially serious for people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly and pregnant women. Symptoms of listeriosis may include fever, muscle pain, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, seizures, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
What meat is being recalled?
So far, FSIS has confirmed that the recalled meat has been shipped to retail outlets and wholesale distributors in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Missouri. (A complete list of retailers and distributors is available here .) FSIS will update the recall notice if affected meat products are found in additional states.
Too many recalled meats to mention, but the list includes everything from bacon strips and beef sausages to summer sausages and pulled pork. A complete list of products, including their package sizes and product codes, can be found in this list . FSIS also provided this file containing images of recalled meat labels.
While you should check your current inventory against the full list, all recalled meats have two things in common :
- They were produced from July 7, 2022 to September 9, 2022.
- All products have the institution number “EST 20917” inside the USDA inspection mark.
FSIS expects additional ready-to-eat meat products to be added to the list and will continue to alert consumers by updating the product label file .
What to do if you bought recalled meat
If you have any of the recalled meat products, do not eat them. Instead, either throw them away or return them to the store where you made your purchase for a refund .
Anyone with questions about the recall or meat products can contact Connie Haselhorst, Vice President of Operations for Behrmann Meat and Processing Inc. at (618) 248-5151 or email [email protected] .