As announced by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), an Oregon-based company that sells pre-cooked proteins is recalling over 11 million pounds of meat and poultry that it shipped to stores, schools, and other institutions nationwide after listeria was detected in its products.
This massive recall – which covers hundreds of items from dozens of popular brands – is incredibly concerning, as listeria can cause serious infections that are particularly dangerous for people who are pregnant, over 65, or have weakened immune systems. It also comes on the heels of several other massive listeria recalls, including those involving Boar’s Head deli meats and Rizo-Lopez Foods’s cheese products.
At Biren Law Group, our award-winning team has extensive experience fighting for victims who’ve suffered serious harms after eating contaminated foods, including food products contaminated with listeria. We currently represent the family of a woman who tragically miscarried after eating listeria contaminated cheese and are helping a growing number of others investigate whether they have grounds to pursue food contamination lawsuits amid the latest outbreak.
If you have questions about a potential listeria lawsuit after suffering an injury, illness, miscarriage, or other serious harm, we want to help. Biren Law Group serves victims and families across Southern California and offers FREE consultations. Call (310) 896-4345 or contact us online to request yours.
BrucePac Listeria Outbreak, Recall Explained
In October 2024, BrucePac initiated a series of recalls covering millions of pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. These products were distributed to restaurants, grocery stores, schools, hospitals, and other institutions across the country, making this one of the largest listeria-related recalls in recent history.
The recall has raised significant concerns due to the sheer volume of contaminated items and their widespread distribution, which could impact thousands of consumers.
Because recalled products were sold under various popular brand names, there are also fears that consumers who unknowingly purchased tainted food still have these products at home. This is particularly alarming because Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria that thrives in cold environments and can continue to grow even in refrigerated conditions.
Key facts about the BrucePac listeria recall:
- BrucePac’s massive recall covers a variety of ready-to-eat food products, ranging from salads, wraps, pasta bowls, burritos, and enchiladas to many other ready-made frozen and family meals.
- Recalled products were sold under various notable brands, such as Rao’s, Boston Market, Atkins, Dole, Taylor Farms, Fresh Express, and Signature Select.
- Recalled products were produced between May 31, 2024 and October 8, 2024 and sold at dozens of stores and major chains, including Aldi, Amazon Fresh, Trader Joe’s, Target, Walmart, Publix, Kroger, 7-Eleven, and more.
Given the scope of the recall, BrucePac has stated that the best way for consumers to identify contaminated products is through the USDA website – which lists recalled products and photos of their labels – or by calling the retailer from which they purchased the product.
The Dangers of Listeria
Listeria monocytogenes is a disease-causing bacteria that can be transmitted when food is harvested, processed, prepared, packed, transported, or stored in contaminated environments.
People who eat listeria-contaminated food can develop listeriosis, a serious infection that can produce symptoms that last from days to weeks, and which range from mild fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea to headache, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. According to the CDC, listeria infection is third leading cause of death from foodborne illnesses in the U.S., causing an estimated 260 deaths annually.
Listeriosis is particularly dangerous, and potentially fatal, for young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and immune-compromised individuals. These people face greater risks of severe complications such as sepsis or meningitis, as well as stillbirth, premature delivery, miscarriage, and other reproductive complications.
If you’ve consumed any recalled product or listeria-contaminated food, it’s essential to monitor your health closely and seek medical attention if you experience symptoms. Early detection and intervention are critical to reducing the severity of infection.
Food Contamination Lawsuits: The Rights of Victims
If you or someone you love suffered harm after consuming food contaminated with listeria, you may be entitled to compensation.
Companies behind food products are closely regulated to ensure the safety of their products, and they can be held liable for injuries and losses resulting from foodborne illnesses like listeriosis. These claims, which introduce complexities of products liability and food safety laws, often involve multiple parties along the supply chain – including manufacturers, distributors, and retailers – and commonly pit real people and individuals against powerful corporations that care more about profits than people. As such, they demand the attention of experienced lawyers.
How Biren Law Group Can Help
At Biren Law Group, we’re known for litigating complex claims involving personal injury, products liability, and wrongful death, and have successfully handled claims involving unsafe food. Our experience, which includes serving as Liaison Counsel for Plaintiffs in the high-profile Jalisco cheese listeria litigation and recovering millions of dollars for victims of food-borne illnesses, has equipped us with the knowledge and resources to navigate these challenging claims.
We know that food contamination lawsuits require thorough investigations and a deep understanding of both products liability and the science behind foodborne illnesses. It’s why our team works closely with medical experts, epidemiologists, and food safety professionals to build strong cases that demonstrate the link between contaminated food and the harm suffered by victims, and why we fight tirelessly for the compensation our clients deserve.
Now, our team is actively investigating potential claims involving serious injuries and losses caused by listeria-contaminated foods from victims throughout Southern California. We offer FREE and confidential consultations, and handle cases on contingency, which means there’s no fee unless we win. To speak with a lawyer, call (310) 896-4345 or contact us online.
