On March 14, 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced that Butterball, based in North Carolina, was recalling about 78,000 pounds of ground turkey products nationwide.
The ground turkey was distributed to institutions and major grocery chains across the country and may be contaminated with salmonella schwarzengrund.
Click the following link to learn more: 2019 Butterball turkey recall.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food Safety & Inspection Service (FSIS) has reported that 216 case-patients in 38 states and the District of Columbia have been diagnosed with salmonella poisoning after consuming various turkey products. In addition, Canadian officials have reported that there have been 22 confirmed cases of turkey induced salmonellosis illness in four provinces.
On December 21, 2018 Jennie-O Turkey Store Sales, Inc. of Fairbault Minnesota announced that it was recalling 164,210 pounds of raw ground turkey products that may be contaminated with Salmonella Reading.
The first illnesses reported began in November but have risen since. The FSIS and CDC have also stated that they are “continuing to investigate illnesses associated with this widespread outbreak, and additional product from other companies may also be recalled.”
People sickened by salmonella have reported to officials that they had eaten different types and brands of turkey products purchased from many different stores, handling raw turkey pet food and/or raw turkey, or working with live turkeys or living with someone who handled live turkeys.
The recalled turkey has been reported to of been shipped and distributed nationwide.
Previously in November, the company issued a recall of more than 91,000 pounds of raw ground turkey products from its Barron, Wisconsin, facility.
Jennie-O Turkey Recall
Image of a recalled Jennie-O turkey product
The raw ground turkey items that have been recalled were produced on October 22, 2018 and October 23, 2018. 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.
Click here to view the labels.
The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. P-579” inside the USDA mark of inspection or on the side of the tray. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide.
Salmonella Food Poisoning
Salmonella is a bacterial infection that causes diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Symptoms begin around 12 to 72 hours after being exposed to it. They can last anywhere from four to seven days.
Though most recover without treatment, some may require hospitalization. In particular, young children, elderly persons, or those with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk of experiencing the worst of the symptoms. There are some cases of death if a patient isn’t treated with antibiotics.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service continues to monitor the outbreak.
Steps to Take to Protect Yourself
Officials remind consumers to wash their hands thoroughly after handling raw meat or poultry products and to cook them at the safe recommended temperature.
In addition, consumers should not eat any recalled products and should take steps to prevent salmonella illness.
That includes the handwashing advice above and thoroughly cooking turkey to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, as measured by a food thermometer. Washing raw turkey is not recommended because it can spread germs. And pet owners should not feed raw food, including turkey, to pets — the investigation for this outbreak identified three infected patients who live in homes where pets were fed raw turkey pet food.
Questions About a Salmonella Poisoning Lawsuit? Contact a Johnson//Becker Lawyer for a Free Case Review.
If you or a loved one was sickened with salmonella after eating any turkey product, you may want to speak with the lawyers at Johnson//Becker. We are currently accepting new salmonella poisoning lawsuits across the country, and you may be entitled to financial compensation.
We offer a Free Case Evaluation. Please contact us using the form below or by calling us at (800) 279-6386.
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