The list of affected products is growing—and so is the list of retailers carrying it—illuminating the reach of a single U.S. meat producer.
National Meat Recall Now Affects Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Kroger, Amazon Fresh and Others, and Schools
Published on Oct. 14, 2024
On Tuesday, October 8, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that nearly 10 million pounds of BrucePac ready-to-eat meat and chicken were recalled due to possible contamination with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes). Now, the fall-out is now sending considerable ripples throughout food distributors, grocery chains, restaurants, and even school districts across the country.
In the days following the announcement, a cascade of subsequent recalls—and a 200-page FSIS document detailing that the affected products had already hit shelves across retailers nationwide—has highlighted just how far-reaching the effects could be. The document shows that the products were repackaged and resold to various other manufacturers and integrated into a strikingly wide range of ready-to-eat products.
For instance, beloved national grocery chain Trader Joe’s has announced that nine of its popular pre-made meals had been pulled from shelves and freezers as a result of the BrucePac recall. These included the Chicken Wrap with Pesto Vinaigrette, Harvest Salad with Grilled Chicken, Tarragon Chicken Salad Wrap, Field Fresh Chopped Salad with Grilled White Chicken, Chicken Chow Mein, Salad with BBQ Flavored Chicken, Cobb Salad with Grilled Chicken Breast, Turkey Club Wrap, and Lemon Chicken & Arugula Salad.
Leading grocery chain Kroger with its reported 300-plus stores issued its own set of recall statements for various products, including select Michelina’s pasta products, select Boston Market pre-made meals, El Monterey Signature Chicken Enchiladas, and various products supplied to the company by Reser’s Fine Foods, an Oregon-based company.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Reser’s Fine Foods issued its own voluntary recall affecting seven of its meal kits marketed under the brand names Bistro 28 and Don Pancho, which were sold in 30 states across various retailers. According to the recall notice, the following products were made using the potentially contaminated chicken: the Don Pancho Chicken Street Taco Express Meal Kit, Chicken Quesadilla Express Meal Kit, and Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Express Meal Kit, as well as the Bistro 28 Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Express Meal Kit, Chicken Burrito Bowl Express Meal Kit, Chicken Street Taco Express Meal Kit, and Chicken Quesadilla Express Meal Kit.
Amazon Fresh, Atkins, Jenny Craig, and Walmart’s Great Value brand were just some of the other high-profile brands that were affected by the BrucePac recall. The FSIS document provides a comprehensive product list, including images of product labels, lots codes, “best by” dates, and more identifying information.
It’s important to note that many of the “best by” dates on frozen products extend into 2025 or even 2026, meaning it’s a good idea to check your freezer for potentially affected foods. However, some of the contaminated BrucePac products were already confirmed to have reached consumers.
On Friday, October 11, 6ABC Action News reported that meals containing the tainted meat had been served to thousands of students across nearly 200 Pre-K and K-12 public schools in Philadelphia. So far, no adverse health effects have been reported as a result, but experts note that Listeriosis can develop weeks after consuming food contaminated with Listeria.
If you believe you may have consumed products that were affected by the recall, it’s important to contact your doctor and report any symptoms you may be experiencing. The symptoms of Listeriosis include fever, chills, headaches, muscle aches, gastrointestinal problems, confusion, loss of balance, and more. Illness can be mild or severe, and can last for a few days, or up to several months, the Cleveland Clinic says.
Consumers who have the tainted products in their possession should not eat them. Discard them, or contact your place of purchase to determine whether a refund is possible.
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