SALT LAKE CITY — An enormous food recall is affecting big-name retailers around the country like Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, 7-Eleven and more.
USA Today reported that “millions of pounds of ready-to-eat salads and pre-made food items like burritos, wraps, and pizzas have been recalled due to a risk of salmonella and listeria.”
This recall has customers thinking twice before they choose grab-and-go food items.
According to the USDA, the first recall came on October 16 stating concerns that 217 to 940 pounds of “salad containing meat supplies” were possibly contaminated with salmonella and listeria but that wasn’t the only recall reported on October 17.
Mary’s Harvest Fresh Foods Inc., Taylor Farms Northwest LLC, and GHSE LLC recalled “wraps, salad meat products, and pork carnitas bowl products” the same day.
On October 19, Ruiz Food Products, Caito Foods LLC, Envolve Foods, Buddy’s Kitchen Inc., SK Food Group, and Bakkavor Foods USA all recalled particular meat and salad products like “diced onions, beef, and chicken.”
Ruiz Food Products Inc. is also recalling 2,490,593 pounds of “ready-to-eat” meat and poultry taquitos that may be contaminated with “Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes,” reports the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.
The ready-to-eat meat and poultry taquitos were produced from July 1 – October 10, 2018.
There have been no confirmed reports of reactions due to the consumption of these products but officials are taking these recalls seriously.
The recall involves “Beef & Taco Cheese Taquitos, Chipotle Chicken Taquitos, and Buffalo Style Cooked Glazed Chicken Taquitos.”
The products were made between July 1 and Oct. 10 and are sold nationwide at 7-Eleven. According to Ruiz Food, the products have been taken off the market.
Products include 22-ounce bags of Simple Truth Chicken Bibimbap, Chicken Tikka Masala, and Thai Style Green Curry. Some of the products have a by/sell by dates through April 12, 2019.
The Kitchen contacted institutions that had been shipped “bulk cases of foods such as omelets with potatoes and sausages produced between Oct. 19, 2017, and Oct. 9, 2018.
The recalls include 11.5-ounce and 8.75-ounce packages of Fresh Garden Highway Santa Fe Style including Chicken salads with best if sold by dates of Oct. 21.
Officials encourage customers to review a full list of products and sell-by dates.
The USDA says consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella causes symptoms of diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever.
The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days with symptoms lasting 12 to 72 hours. If you are having severe symptoms officials encourage persons to see a doctor.
Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weak immune systems, pregnant women and newborns.
Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and possible convulsions.
Persons with these symptoms should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.
Officials are concerned that people may have these products in their fridge or freezer. These products should be disposed of or returned to its place of purchase.
To stay updated on current recalls and alerts check here.
The USDA encourages customers to review a full list of products and sell-by dates.
