Meat producer Butterball has launched a huge voluntary recall of ground turkey products amid a salmonella outbreak.
Over 78,000 pounds of raw, ground turkey products sold at major nationwide chains like Kroger are affected.
While the tainted turkey was packaged on July 7, 2018, and should not be in stores any longer, the U.S. Department of Agriculture warns that customers could still have the meat in their freezers.
In a statement, they warned customers who purchased the products "not to consume them." Instead, they should be "thrown away or returned to the place of purchase."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say six reported illnesses from the ground turkey in three states have been connected a salmonella strain called Schwarzengrund. One of the patients was hospitalized.
Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause an infection called salmonellosis. Symptoms of the condition include vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. The infection is sometimes fatal, but most patients recover without treatment in just a few days
The first reported illness was on December 19, 2018, and the most recent was on February 2, 2019.
Here is a complete list of the recalled products:
- 48-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing "BUTTERBALL everyday Fresh Ground Turkey WITH NATURAL FLAVORING (85% LEAN/15% FAT)" with sell or freeze by date of 7/26/18, lot code 8188, and UPC codes 22655-71555 or 22655-71557 represented on the label.
- 48-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing "BUTTERBALL everyday Fresh Ground Turkey WITH NATURAL FLAVORING (93% LEAN/7% FAT)" with sell or freeze by date of 7/26/18, lot code 8188 and UPC code 22655-71556 represented on the label.
- 16-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing "BUTTERBALL everyday Fresh Ground Turkey WITH NATURAL FLAVORING (85% LEAN/15% FAT)" with sell or freeze by date of 7/26/18, lot code 8188 and UPC code 22655-71546 represented on the label.
- 16-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing "BUTTERBALL everyday Fresh Ground Turkey WITH NATURAL FLAVORING (93% LEAN/7% FAT)" with sell or freeze by date of 7/26/18, lot code 8188 and UPC codes 22655-71547 or 22655-71561 represented on the label
- 48-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing "Kroger GROUND TURKEY FRESH 85% LEAN "“ 15% FAT" with sell or freeze by date of 7/26/18, lot code 8188, and UPC code 111141097993 represented on the label.
- 48-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing "FOOD LION 15% fat ground turkey with natural flavorings" with sell or freeze by date of 7/26/18, lot code 8188 and UPC code 3582609294 represented on the label.
All of the recalled products have the the establishment number EST. P-7345 in the USDA mark of inspection on their packaging.
This recall is unrelated to two other ongoing salmonella outbreaks linked to turkey products.
Jennie-O turkey products were recalled in December, while the CDC continues to investigate another outbreak linked to raw turkey products.
[H/T: Today, Consumer Reports]