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Hundreds of schools across the country received shipments of BrucePac ready-to-eat meat products suspected of listeria contamination, according to the United States Department of Agriculture’s latest updateon the massive recall, which now includes 11.7 million pounds of meat and poultry produced between May 31 and Oct. 8, 2024.
On Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) released apreliminary list of nearly 200 schools in 16 states and Washington, D.C. that received the recalled products. These schools, while not part of the National School Lunch Program, are still at risk due to the distribution of potentially contaminated meat.
Here are the schools in the U.S. that were affected.
Listeria is a bacteria that causes listeriosis, a serious infection that can lead to fever, muscle aches, and, in severe cases, confusion or seizures. It’s especially concerning because children, along with older adults and pregnant women, are in the vulnerable group most at risk for severe illness.
While there have been no confirmed reports of illness linked to the contaminated BrucePac meat products, some people who get sick may recover without ever being tested for listeria, which makes it harder to connect illnesses to the outbreak. If you have questions about the recall, you can contact BrucePac at 503-874-3000. For food safety concerns, the USDA hotline is 888-674-6854.