Key Takeaways:
- Kraft Heinz, a major food company, is recalling over 360,000 pounds of Oscar Mayer turkey bacon due to possible listeria contamination.
- The affected fully cooked turkey bacon products were produced between April 24 and June 11 and were distributed across the U.S., as well as to the British Virgin Islands and Hong Kong.
- No illnesses have been reported so far, with the contamination being detected through Kraft Heinz’s internal testing.
Insight Analysis:
The food industry has been grappling with prominent listeria recalls, such as Boar’s Head closing a facility last year following a deadly outbreak linked to their deli meat products.
Deli meats and ready-to-eat foods are particularly vulnerable to listeria due to the pathogen’s resistance to refrigeration. In 2024, there were 65 recalls related to listeria contamination, highlighting the ongoing challenge in food safety.
In response to previous outbreaks, the USDA had planned to enhance listeria inspections at meat plants. However, budget cuts led to the disbandment of a key advisory committee overseeing food safety regulations earlier this year.
Listeria contamination can result in Listeriosis, posing serious risks to certain demographics like pregnant women, infants, and the elderly. Symptoms may manifest weeks after consuming contaminated food, as per the FSIS.
The recall of Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon Original products by Kraft Heinz covers various package sizes with “use by” dates ranging from July 18 to September 4.