Butterball Recalls 78,000 Pounds of Turkey Over Possible Salmonella Contamination

Zachary Stieber
By Zachary Stieber
March 14, 2019US News
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Butterball Recalls 78,000 Pounds of Turkey Over Possible Salmonella Contamination
(Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

One of the nation’s leading producers of turkey is recalling tens of thousands of pounds of turkey products over potential salmonella contamination.

North Carolina-based Butterball announced on March 13 that it has recalled approximately 78,164 pounds of raw ground turkey products.

The products were sold across the nation in Kroger, Food Lion, and other grocery stores.

NTD Photo
(FSIS)

The following products are affected by the recall:

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.

NTD Photo
(FSIS)

According to the company and the Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the prepacked ground turkey was produced on July 7, 2018, and bears the establishment number “EST. P-7345” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

“FSIS and public health partners, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, have been investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Schwarzengrund illnesses involving 5 case patients from 2 states,” the agency stated.

” Wisconsin collected three intact Butterball brand ground turkey samples from a residence where 4 of the case patients live. The case patients and ground turkey Salmonella Schwarzengrund isolates are closely related, genetically.”

People who have the products should throw them away or return them for a refund.

NTD Photo
Jennie-O recalled over 91,000 pounds of ground turkey that is linked to a salmonella outbreak. (USDA)

Turkey Salmonella Outbreak

The recall comes after hundreds of people were sickened by a salmonella outbreak that started in December 2018 and spread across 41 states and Washington D.C. through raw turkey.

Investigators in that case said the affected products included turkey patties, ground turkey, turkey pet food, and live turkeys.

A number of products were recalled, including from Jennie-O Turkey, a Wisconsin-based subsidiary of Hormel. The company recalled 164,210 pounds of raw ground turkey products in December after recalling a similar amount the previous month.

“In interviews, ill people report eating different types and brands of turkey products purchased from many different locations. Four ill people lived in households where raw turkey pet food was fed to pets,” said the CDC.

Still, the agency claimed that products not under recall were safe to eat if cooked properly.

salmonella outbreak prompts ground beef recall
Illustration of salmonella bacteria. (CDC)

Salmonella

Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, a common bacterial foodborne illness, noted the CDC.

“CDC estimates salmonella causes about 1.2 million illnesses, 23,000 hospitalizations, and 450 deaths in the United States every year. Food is the source for about 1 million of these illnesses,” the agency stated.

Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after consuming a contaminated product.

Most people recover without treatment; most of those hospitalized suffer from severe diarrhea.

The illness typically lasts four to seven days.

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