The Associated Press and other U.S. media reported on the 10th (local time) that a factory in Oklahoma, a meat and poultry instant food processing plant of the U.S. meat processing giant Brewspac, has recalled as much as 10 million pounds of products suspected of being infected with listeria bacteria that are fatal to humans.
The BrewSpac headquarters in Woodburn, Oregon, is reportedly recalling the U.S. Department of Agriculture this week after notifying that listeria bacteria were found in samples of the company’s chicken products during regular inspections.
The Ministry of Agriculture’s re-examination confirmed that the source of the contamination was Brewspac’s chicken. The list of recalled products includes 75 kinds of meat and chicken products.
Most of the recalled products are ready-to-eat foods, and products produced between June 19 and October 8 among chicken breast roasts produced at factories in Durant, Oklahoma, and sold at various facilities, including restaurants and food stores nationwide.
A U.S. Department of Agriculture official said it is recalling numerous food stores, restaurants, and other food-related facilities nationwide.
No Listeria food poisoning cases or deaths from the consumption of these meat products have been reported yet.
However, eating Listeria-contaminated foods can lead to serious food poisoning and death. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said 1,600 Listeria cases occur every year in the U.S. and 260 people die.
The CDC warned that listeria bacteria are deadly dangerous, especially for pregnant women and the elderly with weak immune systems.
JULIE KIM
US ASIA JOURNL
