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Everything you need to know about the listeria recall for meat products and frozen waffles

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Everything you need to know about the listeria recall for meat products and frozen waffles

Topline

Frozen waffles sold under various brand names at grocery giants such as Walmart, Target and Publix have been recalled due to concerns about possible listeria contamination. This news comes after millions of pounds of meat and poultry products were recalled last week in an otherwise unrelated move over the same concerns.

Important facts

TreeHouse Foods has issued a voluntary recall of dozens of frozen waffle products sold under various brand names, including Kodiak, Simple Truth (Kroger's brand), Good and Gather (Target), and Great Value (Walmart), as well as products sold under Stop and Shop, Food Lion, Giant Eagle, Harris Teeter, Hannaford and other private labels were sold.

The company has released a 14-page list of affected brands and their associated UPCs, lot codes and best-before dates, and customers can return any affected products to the store where they purchased them for a refund.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture last week added another 1.7 million pounds to a recall of products potentially contaminated with listeria processed at an Oklahoma facility owned by BrucePac Packaging, potentially bringing the total weight to 1.7 million pounds Listeria contaminated products increased to 11.7 million pounds.

This recall originated earlier this month at a BrucePac facility in Durant, Oklahoma, and applies to ready-to-eat meat and poultry products manufactured at the facility from May 31 to October 8.

The products were shipped nationwide and distributed to restaurants, schools and grocers – including Costco, Trader Joe's, Target, Walmart and Kroger – and were prompted by the discovery of products that were positive for listeria in routine testing at the facility and later found to be contaminated turned out chicken.

The USDA maintains a searchable list of recalled products (which was 372 pages long as of Monday) and includes popular items like mini Southwestern-style burritos sold at Costco; Trader Joe's brand lemon chicken arugula salad, white meat chicken salad and chicken chow mein; and a dozen pre-made Kroger brand salad kits.

The meat and waffle recalls were issued by different companies and are unrelated.

No illnesses have been reported associated with eating the foods from either recall, but the USDA recommends consumers check their products and labels against the lists and throw away any exposed products they may have at home.

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Is this meat related to the deli meat recall?

No. The BrucePac meat and poultry recall is unrelated to the Boar's Head deli meat recall, which sparked the nation's largest listeria outbreak in a decade this summer. That outbreak killed 10 people and sickened dozens more who ate sausages processed at a Virginia factory that has since permanently closed.

What is listeria?

According to the CDC, Listeria is a foodborne illness that is most commonly transmitted through the consumption of improperly processed meats and unpasteurized dairy products because it spreads easily through deli equipment, surfaces, hands and food. People who eat foods contaminated with the bacteria Listeria monocytogene may develop listeriosis infection. Most healthy people do not become seriously ill with a listeria infection, but disproportionately affected people are people over 65, newborns and pregnant women, who may experience only mild symptoms themselves, but babies in utero can die from listeria. Pregnant women are 18 times more likely to develop listeriosis than other healthy adults. The Listeria bacteria can survive refrigeration and even freezing, making them difficult to eradicate once they are found.

Big number

2. There have been two listeria outbreaks linked to contaminated food so far this year. Two people died and 26 became ill in connection with queso fresco and cotija cheese contamination in February. The Boar's Head recall resulted in 59 cases and 10 deaths over the summer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were three listeria outbreaks in 2023 linked to leafy greens, ice cream and fruit.

Further reading

BrucePac Recalls Ready-to-Eat Meat and Poultry Products Due to Possible Listeria Contamination (USDA)

In the Chaos at the Boar's Head (Forbes)

10. Death Related to Boar's Head Deli Meat Recall: What to Know About the Listeria Outbreak (Forbes)

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