Officials are asking consumers to throw away this Independence Day staple over fears it may be contaminated with listeria.
Kraft Heinz Foods Company and the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a recall for about 367,812 pounds of packaged turkey bacon.
The affected products include Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon Original 12oz, Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon 36 oz (3-12 oz packs) and Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon Original 48 oz (4-12oz).
According to the USDA, the products are believed to be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes – a bacteria capable of causing serious infections in humans.
While a listeria infection usually causes mild fever, headache and diarrhea in most people, it can be deadly for pregnant women, newborns, the elderly and those with weak immune systems.
These items were shipped to multiple retail locations nationwide including Target and some were even exported to the British Virgin Islands and Hong Kong.
As of now, no reports of illness caused by the infected products have been reported by officials and consumers have been asked to either discard the packages or return them to the store of purchase.
