Reuters reports that poultry producer Pilgrim's Pride Corp. has recalled 27.4 million pounds of fresh and frozen ready-to-eat turkey and chicken products, making it the largest meat recall in US history.
The recall is accompanied by warnings that the meat could be contaminated by the potentially deadly bacteria listeria, though the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has said that no specific illnesses have been linked to the product being recalled.
Federal officials are probing a listeria outbreak that has caused at least 23 deaths and 120 illnesses in eight Northeastern states.
The move by Pilgrim's Pride follows last week’s decision to pull 295,000 pounds from the market last week.
About 2,500 cases of listeriosis occur each year in the United States. Listeria can be destroyed by cooking meat to a temperature of at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
The recall is accompanied by warnings that the meat could be contaminated by the potentially deadly bacteria listeria, though the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has said that no specific illnesses have been linked to the product being recalled.
Federal officials are probing a listeria outbreak that has caused at least 23 deaths and 120 illnesses in eight Northeastern states.
The move by Pilgrim's Pride follows last week’s decision to pull 295,000 pounds from the market last week.
About 2,500 cases of listeriosis occur each year in the United States. Listeria can be destroyed by cooking meat to a temperature of at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
- KC's View:
- See the next story about irradiated beef . Recalls like these are why irradiation doesn’t seem like such a negative process anymore.
