WASHINGTON, Dec. 21, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a warning to consumers about possible Salmonella Reading contamination of Jennie-O raw ground turkey products.
A FSIS news release says Jennie-O Turkey Store Sales, Inc., is recalling approximately 164,210 pounds of raw ground turkey products that were produced on Oct. 22 and Oct. 23 this year.
The following products are subject to recall:
- 3-lb. packages of “Jennie-O GROUND TURKEY 93% LEAN | 7% FAT” with “Use or freeze by” dates of 11/12/18 and 11/13/18 on the side of the trays.
- 1-lb. packages of “Jennie-O GROUND TURKEY 93% LEAN | 7% FAT” with “Use or freeze by” dates of 11/12/18 on the side of the trays.
- 1-lb. packages of “Jennie-O TACO SEASONED GROUND TURKEY” with “Use or freeze by” dates of 11/12/18 on the side of the trays.
- 1-lb. packages of “Jennie-O ITALIAN SEASONED GROUND TURKEY” with “Use or freeze by” dates of 11/12/18 on the side of the trays.
- 3-lb. packages of “Jennie-O Ground Turkey 85% LEAN | 15% FAT” with a “Use or freeze by” date of 11/13/18 on the side of the trays.
- 2.5-lb. packages of “Jennie-O Ground Turkey 93% LEAN | 7% FAT” with a “Use or freeze by” date of 11/13/18 on the side of the trays.
- 3-lb. packages of “STATER BROS. 85% LEAN | 15% FAT ALL NATURAL Ground Turkey” with a “Use or freeze by” date of 11/12/18 on the side of the trays.
The products subject to recall have establishment number “EST. P-579” inside the USDA mark of inspection or on the side of the tray. They were shipped to retail stores nationwide.
“FSIS and its public health partners, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, have been conducting traceback activities for a sample of Jennie-O brand ground turkey in an intact, unopened package from a case-patient’s home. The patient tested positive for Salmonella Reading and the samples from the case-patient and from the ground turkey are closely related genetically,” according to the news release.
The recall is part of a larger investigation of an illness cluster involving 216 patients in 38 states and the District of Columbia. Patients reported becoming ill after eating various brands of turkey products, handling raw turkey pet food, working with live turkeys, or living with someone who handled live turkeys.
The most common symptoms of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating the contaminated product. Diarrhea can lead to severe dehydration, which should be checked by a health care provider. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment. Older adults, infants, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a severe illness.
Consumers who have these products in their freezer or refrigerator are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
When available, retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.
FSIS advises everyone to only consume raw poultry product that has been cooked to a temperature of 165°F.
You can’t see, smell, or taste harmful bacteria that may cause illness. In every step of food preparation, follow the four guidelines to keep food safe:
- Clean — Wash hands and surfaces often.
- Separate — Separate raw meat from other foods.
- Cook — Cook to the right temperature.
- Chill — Refrigerate food promptly.
Consumers with questions regarding the recall can call Hormel Consumer Engagement at (800) 621-3505.
Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem.
