Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon Recalled Due to Risk of Listeria - Consumer Reports
Kraft Heinz issued a nationwide recall of Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon after the company’s lab tests showed the product could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Wednesday. More than 367,000 pounds of the bacon are involved in the recall.
CR contacted Kraft Heinz for comment, and the company referred us to their press release.
Check your fridge or freezer, says James E. Rogers, PhD, director of food safety and testing at CR. “If you have one of the recalled packages, throw it out.” You can also return it to the store where it was purchased for a refund, according to the company’s release. Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Kraft Heinz at 800-280-7185 or [email protected].
Listeria is a hardy bacterium that can survive in the freezer and on hard surfaces. If you have a recalled package of bacon, be sure to clean and sanitize the areas where it was stored using hot water and a mild liquid dishwashing detergent. After rinsing, disinfect with a solution of 1 tablespoon of bleach in 1 gallon of water and dry with a clean cloth or paper towel, says Rogers.
The symptoms of listeriosis—the infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes—are fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. For otherwise healthy adults, these symptoms typically resolve within a few days. However, listeriosis can cause severe illness, hospitalization, and even death, especially in high-risk people like very young children, older adults, and anyone with a weakened immune system.
Listeriosis is especially dangerous for pregnant people. It can cause a miscarriage, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection in the newborn, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prompt treatment is important, but some listeriosis symptoms are similar to morning sickness, so a person might not realize they’re sick with the infection until it has spread.
If you’re pregnant and have symptoms of listeriosis along with a temperature of 100.6° F or higher, ask your doctor for a blood test, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends.
Lisa L. Gill is an award-winning investigative reporter. She has been at Consumer Reports since 2008, covering health and food safety—heavy metals in the food supply and foodborne illness—plus healthcare and prescription drug costs, medical debt, and credit scores. Lisa also testified before Congress and the Food and Drug Administration about her work on drug costs and drug safety. She lives in a DIY tiny home, where she gardens during the day and stargazes the Milky Way at night.
