Frozen waffles sold under various brand names at grocery giants like Walmart, Target and Publix have been recalled due to concerns over a potential listeria contamination, news that comes after millions of pounds of meat and poultry products were recalled last week in an otherwise unrelated move over the same concerns.
Target store brand frozen toaster waffles are part of a nationwide recall.
TreeHouse Foods issued a voluntary recall of dozens of frozen waffle products sold under various brand names including Kodiak, Simple Truth (Kroger’s brand), Good and Gather (Target), and Great Value (Walmart), as well as those sold under the Stop and Shop, Food Lion, Giant Eagle, Harris Teeter, Hannaford and other store brands.
A 14-page list of impacted brands and their correlating UPCs, lot codes and "Best By" dates has been issued by the company, and customers can return any impacted products to the store they at which it was purchased for a refund.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture last week added another 1.7 million pounds to a recall of products potentially contaminated with listeria processed at an Oklahoma facility owned by BrucePac packaging, bringing the total weight of potentially listeria-contaminated products to 11.7 million pounds.
That recall originated earlier this month from a BrucePac plant in Durant, Oklahoma, and applies to ready-to-eat meat and poultry items produced at the facility from May 31 to Oct. 8.
The products were shipped nationwide and distributed to restaurants, schools and grocers—including Costco, Trader Joe's, Target, Walmart and Kroger—and was sparked by the discovery of products positive for listeria during routine testing at the facility later found to have come from contaminated chicken.
The USDA is maintaining a searchable list of recalled products (which was 372 pages long as of Monday) and includes popular items like southwestern style mini burritos sold at Costco; Trader Joe's branded lemon chicken and arugula salad, white meat chicken salad and chicken chow mein; and a dozen Kroger brand pre-made salad kits.
The meat and waffle recalls were issued by different companies and are not related.
No illnesses connected to consuming the foods from either recall have been reported, but the USDA recommends consumers search their products and labels against the lists and throw away any of the exposed products they may have at home.
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No. The BrucePac meat and poultry recall is not connected to the Boar's Head deli meat recall that sparked the nation's largest listeria outbreak in a decade this summer. That outbreak killed 10 people and sickened dozens more who ate deli meats processed at a Virginia plant that has since been permanently shut down.
Listeria is a foodborne illness most often contracted by eating improperly processed meats and unpasteurized milk products, as it spreads easily among deli equipment, surfaces, hands and food, according to the CDC. People who eat food contaminated with the listeria monocytogene bacteria can develop a listeriosis infection. Most healthy people don’t get seriously sick from a listeria infection, but it does disproportionately impact people older than 65, newborns and pregnant women—who may themselves experience only mild symptoms, but babies in utero can die from listeria. Pregnant women are 18 times more likely to get listeriosis than other healthy adults. The listeria bacteria can survive refrigeration and even freezing, making it difficult to eradicate once found.
- There have been two listeria outbreaks related to contaminated food products so far this year. Two people died and 26 were sickened in connection to a queso fresco and cotija cheese contamination in February. The Boar's Head recall led to 59 cases and 10 deaths over the summer. There were three listeria outbreaks in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, linked to leafy greens, ice cream and fruit.
BrucePac Recalls Ready-To-Eat Meat and Poultry Products Due to Possible Listeria Contamination (USDA)
Inside The Chaos At Boar’s Head (Forbes)
10th Death Linked To Boar’s Head Deli Meat Recall: What To Know About The Listeria Outbreak (Forbes)