The nationwide recall that has expanded to nearly 12 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry that could be contaminated with Listeria includes products sold at stores in Clallam and Jefferson counties.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, 11,765,285 pounds of pre-cooked meat and poultry items produced by Oregon-based BrucePac have been subject to the recall after Listeria monocytogenes was detected during routine testing of the company’s ready-to-eat poultry.
Products containing the poultry were sold to grocery stores, restaurants and institutions across the country.
According to a USDA update, some of the products had been distributed to schools. Its website noted that while “A school distribution list is not available at this time,” one would be posted when it became available.
BrucePac sells its ready-to-eat items to companies that resell or repackage them or use them as ingredients in foods they manufacture and distribute.
The USDA identified 11 stores in Clallam and Jefferson counties that sold products included in the recall.
Among local grocery store chains affected are QFC, Safeway and Walmart. Brands named in the recall include Boston Market, Dole, El Monterey, Great Value, Michelina’s, Signature Select and Udi’s.
The affected meat and poultry items were produced at BrucePac’s Durant, Okla., plant between May 31 and Oct. 8.
The list of recalled products is 343 pages long and can be found at tinyurl.com/3bpeej74. The document includes instructions for how to use the search function to check for product names and brands people may have purchased.
Consumers are urged to throw away any products that are part of the recall or return them to the store where they were purchased.
According to a BrucePac press release, it can’t issue refunds because it doesn’t sell directly to retail stores.
Food contaminated with Listeria bacteria can cause serious complications in newborns, pregnant women, older adults and individuals with compromised immune systems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those who believe they have eaten food contaminated with Listeria and have symptoms like fatigue or muscle aches are encouraged to contact their healthcare provider.
Listeria is the third-leading cause of death from food-borne illness in the United States, according to the CDC.
Products recalled
In addition to Safeway and Walmart, the USDA said products in the recall are sold at the following Clallam and Jefferson county stores:
Clallam County
• Carlsborg Station, 20 Carlsborg Road, Sequim
• Arco Food Mart, 807 S. Lincoln St., Port Angeles
• 1st Street Market & Deli, 210 First St., Port Angeles
• Grandview Grocery, 802 S. C St., Port Angeles
• Highway 101 Food Mart, 1023 E. Front St., Port Angeles
• Hess Mart, 17203 state Highway 112, Clallam Bay
• Ron’s Food Mart, 170 N. Forks Ave., Forks
• Lonesome Creek Store, 90 Main St., LaPush
Jefferson County
• Chimacum Chevron, 9072 Beaver Valley Road, Chimacum
• Peninsula Foods, 294682 U.S. Highway 101, Quilcene
• Port Ludlow Village Store, 40 Village Way, Port Ludlow
Olympic Peninsula News Group reporter Paula Hunt can be reached by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.
