Once upon a time, the scariest critters known to humanity were large beasts. Now, the things that frighten us most cannot even be seen with the naked eye. Lions, tigers, and bears have been replaced with listeria, E. coli, and salmonella. And of course, just in time for the holiday season, another round of food recalls have been issued. So before you start preparing for Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, or any other meal at your house, make sure you check to see if any of the items lurking in your pantry, fridge or freezer are on the list of recalled products. The following are the some of the biggest recalls Americans needs to be aware of:
- Romaine lettuce. The Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) has put out a warning advising Americans in all 50 states to avoid romaine lettuce as it may be contaminated with E. coli. Restaurants, retailers, and consumers have been advised to toss any romaine lettuce that they have after more than 30 people in 11 states, and part of Canada have become ill. Since no one distributor or source has been identified, consumers are advised to avoid all forms of romaine, whether they purchased it whole heads of the lettuce or as part of salad mix.
- Raw turkey products. Since July, more than 160 people in 35 states have gotten ill after eating turkey products that were contaminated with salmonella. One person had died, and another 63 have been hospitalized. Jennie-O Turkey Stores, LLC has recalled more than 90,000 pounds of raw ground turkey products. But no one distributor has been identified, so officials think that the problem could be widespread in the turkey industry, as tests have food the bacteria in pet food and live turkeys. In light of the salmonella, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) has reminded consumers to wash hands after handling raw poultry and to cook turkey product If you have any of the recalled products in your freezer, consumers are encouraged to throw out the product or return it to the grocery store for a refund.
- Duncan Hines cake mixes. ConAgra has recalled four types of its Duncan Hines cake mix due to possible salmonella contamination. The recall was issued after the finding the bacteria in retail samples. Three people in three different states report becoming sick after eating cake or raw cake batter, but the illnesses have not been confirmed to have come from the recalled Duncan Hines products. To be safe, consumers who have the recalled cake mixes are being told not to use them and can return them to the store for a refund.
- Ground beef. JBS Tolleson has recalled more than 6.9 million pounds of beef after the product was suspected to be contaminated with salmonella. More than 245 people in 25 states fell ill after eating the meat. Consumers are encouraged to check their freezer for the recalled products. To find out more information about the recall, visit the USDA website.
- Raw chicken. More than 90 people have become sick after eating different brands of chicken products. The culprit is salmonella infantis, which has been found in raw chicken products as well as live chickens, which may be an indication that this problem is industry wide. There has been no warning by the CDC or other agencies for people to stop eating chicken products at this time. However, consumers are reminded to handle raw poultry carefully and to cook it to at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you or a loved one become seriously ill after consuming foods infected with the listeria, salmonella, or E. coli bacteria, it is important to know that you may have legal recourse for the injuries you suffered. The Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys at the Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. have helped countless injury victims, in both Kansas and Missouri, obtain compensation. Our compassionate team of attorneys will make it a priority to fight for your rights and to hold any wrongdoers accountable. To schedule an initial consultation with one of our Injury Attorneys, contact Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. today at (816) 472-4673.