Sophie Bennett
Chicken is a staple food for many, but it can also be a source of health scares and foodborne illnesses. In October 2024, BrucePac recalled approximately 11.7 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. This impacted various brands sold at retailers like Costco, Walmart, and Trader Joe's, with consumers urged to check their freezers and dispose of certain items. FreshRealm also recalled its chicken fettuccine alfredo products in June 2025 due to possible Listeria contamination, with investigations linking the outbreak to 17 illnesses and three reported deaths across 13 states. Salmonella outbreaks linked to chicken have also been reported, with Foster Farms implicated in a 2014 incident that hospitalized 40% of infected individuals. These health scares highlight the importance of safe handling, cooking, and vigilance when it comes to chicken consumption.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Brand Name | FreshRealm |
| Product | Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo |
| Contamination | Listeria monocytogenes |
| Recall Date | June 17, 2025 |
| Illnesses | 17 ill people, 3 reported deaths, 1 fetal loss |
| Contaminated Batch | Best-by date 06/19/25 or prior |
| Package Details | 12.5 oz. tray packages with USDA mark and establishment numbers "EST. P-50784," "EST. P-47770," or "EST. P-47718" |
| Consumer Advisory | Consumers urged not to consume the product and to throw it away or return it |
| Retailers | Costco, Walmart, Trader Joe's, Sprouts, Aldi |
| Other Brands Impacted | Red's, El Monterey, Reser's, Rana |
Explore related products
![[492FT] Effective Birds Scare Ribbon, Reflective Flash Reflectors to Keep Pigeons, Hawks, Woodpeckers, Geeses Away from Trees Plants Crops](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71n2tujDc0L._AC_UL320_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
BrucePac chicken recalled due to listeria
BrucePac, a Durant, Oklahoma-based company, has recalled approximately 10 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The recall was initiated after routine product testing by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) confirmed the presence of Listeria in BrucePac's ready-to-eat chicken products.
The recall includes products shipped nationwide and produced from May 31 to October 8, 2024. Initially, the recall affected 9 million pounds of products from June 19 to October 8, 2024. The recalled items bear establishment numbers "51205 or P-51205" inside or under the USDA mark of inspection.
Consumers are urged not to consume the recalled products and to either throw them away or return them to the place of purchase. Costco, in particular, has advised its customers to check their freezers and dispose of specific items, including Red's Southwestern Grilled Chicken Mini Burritos and El Monterey Mexican Grill Chicken & Cheese Taquitos purchased during the specified periods.
Listeriosis, the infection caused by consuming food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, primarily affects older adults, individuals with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and newborns. People in these high-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months of consuming contaminated food should seek medical attention and inform their healthcare provider about the potential exposure to Listeria.
For more information or questions regarding the recall, consumers can contact BrucePac via email at [email protected] or reach out to Seth Leeper, Recall Coordinator, at 503-874-3000.
Chicken, Rice, and Dog Food: The Perfect Mix
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Foster Farms chicken linked to salmonella outbreak
In 2013, an outbreak of Salmonella Heidelberg infections was linked to Foster Farms brand chicken. The outbreak affected people in multiple states, with illnesses linked to the consumption of both raw and cooked rotisserie chicken purchased from Costco. The outbreak resulted in an unknown number of chicken products being recalled by Foster Farms.
The outbreak was first identified by Oregon and Washington epidemiologists, who noticed a cluster of infections involving a Salmonella Heidelberg strain. This led to investigations by local, state, and federal officials, who used epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback methods to confirm the link between the illnesses and Foster Farms chicken. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) partnered with state health departments to monitor the outbreak, while the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) continued its investigation.
During the outbreak investigation, health departments collected leftover chicken from the homes of ill persons for laboratory testing. Testing identified one of the outbreak strains of Salmonella Heidelberg in an unopened package of raw Foster Farms chicken collected from an ill person's home in Washington. Additionally, shopper card information was used to determine that cooked rotisserie chicken purchased from a specific Costco store location in South San Francisco was linked to several illnesses.
Foster Farms implemented interventions at various stages of its poultry production process to reduce Salmonella contamination. These interventions included measures at the breeder level, hatcheries, grow-out farms, and the processing plant. As a result, the prevalence of Salmonella in Foster Farms establishments linked to the outbreak was reduced to less than 5%.
The Salmonella Heidelberg outbreak associated with Foster Farms chicken was not an isolated incident. Between 2004 and 2014, there were four separate outbreaks of Salmonella linked to Foster Farms chicken, affecting hundreds of people across multiple states. The USDA's response to these outbreaks was criticized for a lack of enforcement action and failure to warn the public or request a recall.
Who's the Chicken in Mickey Mouse?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
FreshRealm recalls Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo due to listeria
FreshRealm has recalled its Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo products due to possible Listeria contamination. The recall was announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on June 17, 2025. FSIS, in collaboration with the FDA and CDC, is investigating an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes, which has been linked to the consumption of these meals.
The recalled products were distributed nationwide and sold in the refrigerated sections of Walmart and Kroger stores under the Marketside and Home Chef brand names, respectively. The products included 32.8-oz and 12.3-oz tray packages of "MARKETSIDE GRILLED CHICKEN ALFREDO WITH FETTUCCINE" and 12.5-oz tray packages of "HOME CHEF Heat & Eat Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo". The best-by dates for these products were 06/27/25 or prior, 06/26/25 or prior, and 06/19/25 or prior, respectively.
As of June 18, 2025, 17 cases have been reported from 13 states, with three reported deaths and one fetal loss associated with the outbreak. The outbreak strain of Listeria was isolated from ill people between August 2024 and May 2025, and was also found in a routine chicken fettuccine alfredo sample collected by FSIS in a FreshRealm establishment in March 2025.
FSIS advises consumers who have purchased these products not to consume them and to throw them away or return them to the place of purchase. Listeriosis, the illness caused by consuming food contaminated with Listeria, can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions, and other severe symptoms, especially in pregnant women, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.
Pregnant and Craving Chicken? Sub Shop Chicken: Safe?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Red's Chicken Chorizo Burrito recalled due to listeria
In October 2024, Costco posted voluntary recall notices for Red's Chicken Chorizo Burritos due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria). The recall was connected to a larger recall of nearly 10 million pounds of BrucePac ready-to-eat meat and chicken products that may have been contaminated with Listeria.
Red's Chicken Chorizo Burritos were included in the recall, along with other Red's brand products such as Red's Chicken & Cheddar Burritos and Red's Southwestern Grilled Chicken Mini Burritos. The recall affected products with specific lot codes and best-by dates, with distribution of the recalled Red's Mini Burritos limited to the Midwest region.
Listeriosis, the infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes, can be dangerous for certain vulnerable populations. Consumers who purchased the recalled products were urged not to consume them and to seek medical care if they experienced flu-like symptoms within two months of eating contaminated food.
The recall was initiated after routine product testing by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) confirmed the presence of Listeria in ready-to-eat poultry products produced by BrucePac. The FSIS advised consumers to check the establishment number on recalled products, which may be "51205" or "P-51205" inside or under the USDA mark of inspection.
In addition to Red's, other brands impacted by the BrucePac recall included El Monterey, Reser's, and Rana. The recall included ready-to-eat products like salad, pasta, and rice bowls sold at various retailers, including Trader Joe's, Aldi, and Costco.
Chicken Farmers: Education for a Fulfilling Career
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Chicken linked to E. coli and drug-resistant bacteria
Chicken has been linked to several health scares in recent years. In 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) recalled more than 11.7 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recall included products from various brands sold at retailers like Costco, Walmart, and Trader Joe's, with a particular focus on BrucePac chicken products.
Listeria monocytogenes is a harmful bacterium that can cause serious health issues, including listeriosis, which requires treatment with antibiotics. The FSIS reported that as of June 17, 2025, there have been three reported deaths and one fetal loss associated with the outbreak.
In addition to Listeria concerns, chicken has also been linked to E. coli infections, particularly those causing urinary tract infections. A 2023 study found that approximately 8% of E. coli urinary tract infections in the United States were caused by bacteria strains present in chicken. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in animal agriculture contribute to the rise of antibiotic-resistant infections, which can spread to humans and require more costly and complicated treatments.
Furthermore, chicken has been found to contain naturally occurring carcinogens, such as PhIP and heterocyclic amines (HCAs), which have been linked to an increased risk of various cancers. Cooking chicken at higher temperatures and for longer durations can increase the formation of these harmful compounds.
To protect consumers, the FSIS advises safe handling and cooking practices for all meat products, including chicken. Consumers are urged to cook premade meals, such as chicken fettuccine alfredo, to a temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure the destruction of harmful bacteria.
Dixie Chicks: Grand Ole Opry Members?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
In October 2024, BrucePac recalled ready-to-eat chicken products due to possible Listeria contamination. This impacted various brands, including Costco, Walmart, Trader Joe's, Red's, El Monterey, Reser's Fine Foods, and Rana.
In June 2025, FreshRealm recalled its chicken fettuccine alfredo products due to possible Listeria contamination. As of June 17, 2025, there have been three reported deaths and one fetal loss associated with this outbreak.
People in higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months of eating contaminated food should seek medical care. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics.
