In one of the largest meat recalls in American history, Cargill Meat Solutions is recalling 36 million pounds of ground turkey products that may have been contaminated with a drug resistant strain of Salmonella Heidelberg. Many of the products are sold at HEB, Randall’s, and other local grocery stores.
For example, 16 ounce trays of trays of “Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey” with Use or Freeze by Dates of 2/20/11 through 8/23/11 were sold at Randall’s in Austin. The recall also includes 16 ounce trays of “Fresh Lean HEB Ground Turkey 93/7” sold at HEB stores. All the packages include the code “Est. P-963” on the label.
Check out USDA’s full list of recalled products. This PDF file on Cargill Meat Solutions’ website shows what the packaging looks like.
Cargill Meat Solutions – based in Springdale, Arkansas – issued the recall after a public health alert last week from the Food Safety and Inspection Service.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports at least 76 people becoming sick from the food, including nine in Texas. One person has died. The CDC’s website explains the symptoms.
Most persons infected with Salmonella bacteria develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, in some persons, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. Older adults, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness from Salmonella infection.
