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Ground Turkey Recall

Last Updated: 03 December, 2018

There has been a recent nationwide recall of ground turkey that is tied to a deadly outbreak of salmonella. Jennie-O has now recalled five different variations of their 1-lb packaged ground turkey, all with “Use by” dates of October 1 or October 2. The result is more than 147,000 pounds of recalled turkey. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there have been 164 reported infections from 30 different states, including one death in California. Patients have reported eating different brands of turkey products from different stores, handling raw turkey, or working with live turkeys. The outbreak is still being investigated and additional product from other companies may also be recalled in the future. Updated information will be provided as it becomes available.

Salmonella in food is responsible for 1 million illnesses a year. Children under 5, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to obtaining a severe illness, but anyone could become severely sick as a result of consuming contaminated meat. Symptoms of salmonella include:

  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Vomiting
  • Fever

The illness can sicken people for as much as a week, and most people will recover without treatment. However, it can become severe enough to pose life-threatening conditions, so it is important that you pay close attention to your symptoms and see a doctor immediately.

In order to prevent yourself from contracting the disease, discard of all recalled products or return them to the place of purchase. In addition to discarding the product associated with the recall, consumers must protect themselves from illness when cooking with poultry products, even if they are not contaminated. Due to the fact that consuming raw poultry presents a hazard, it is imperative that you cook the turkey to a safe temperature of 165 degrees, as the cooking process kills the salmonella. Finally, people must wash their hands after handling raw poultry and meat to avoid cross-contamination.

As consumers, we expect the products we consume to be safe. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) abides by strict screenings and standards to assure that foods are safe to consume. However, there are frequently instances where their process fails to identify potential hazards to the public, exposing consumers to significant health risks. These major food recalls are made known to the public through news programs and other media. However, recalls take time to have a large impact, therefore many times people are hurt before a product is known to be dangerous, making it difficult to avoid the product.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by a tainted food item, you have the right to take legal action and Spiros Law, P.C. is here to help. The food product and container attorneys at Spiros Law are driven, dedicated, and ready to help you fight for the compensation you deserve. Do not delay seeking legal advice if you have been harmed by a tainted food product. Contact our office today at (815) 929-9292 to speak about your unique situation.