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Dive Brief:
Food giant Kraft Heinz is recalling more than 360,000 pounds of Oscar Mayer turkey bacon products for possible listeria contamination.
Affected products include fully cooked turkey bacon produced from April 24 through June 11, according to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. Products were shipped across the U.S., with some exported to the British Virgin Islands and Hong Kong.
No illnesses have been reported, FSIS said. The possible contamination was discovered through Kraft Heinz’s internal laboratory testing.
Dive Insight:
Major food companies have grappled with high-profile listeria recalls. Last September, Boar’s Head closed a facility months after an outbreak led to nine deaths and more than 7 million pounds of recalled meat.
Deli meats and ready-to-eat products are among the foods most susceptible to listeria contamination, since pathogens aren’t destroyed in the refrigeration process. There were 65 recalls over potential listeria contamination in 2024, compared to 47 the prior year, according to the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.
Following large-scale outbreaks last year, the USDA released a plan to ramp up listeria inspections at meat plants. However, a scientific advisory committee tasked with overseeing the regulatory strategy was terminated in March as part of the Trump administration’s effort to slash costs and streamline the government.
Consuming food contaminated with listeria can lead to Listeriosis, which can be especially harmful for pregnant women, newborns and those over the age of 65. Symptoms can appear sometimes weeks after eating contaminated food, according to the FSIS.
The Kraft Heinz recall includes Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon Original products across a variety of package sizes. Affected products include “use by” dates ranging from as early as July 18 to as late as Sept. 4.
