USDA lists over 150 schools that may be affected by listeria recall

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said over 150 schools received BrucePac products likely contaminated by listeria, as per a Thursday release.

All ready-to-eat meat and poultry produced by BrucePac in Durant, Okla. from May 31 through Oct. 8 is no longer considered safe according to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection.

The company expanded it’s initial recall list of 9.9 million pounds to 11 million pounds of food purchased by schools and on store shelves in Pennsylvania, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Tennessee and Indiana among other places. 

The company first announced the recall on Oct. 11 and said there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products as of Oct. 17.

The USDA found BrucePac ready to eat chicken as the source of the Listeria outbreak. The bacteria can cause listeriosis which can cause fever, muscle aches, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea.

The impact can be life threatening for senior citizens or people with weakened immune systems and may cause pregnant women to miscarry.

The recall comes after a deadly Boar’s Head listeria outbreak currently being investigated by lawmakers.