The recalled items were produced at Cargill's Waco, Texas, plant from May 1 to Dec. 11. They were distributed at grocery stores, restaurants, and institutions throughout the U.S., Iceland, and Venezuela. Cargill Turkey, based in Springdale, Ark., has contacted restaurants and delicatessens that purchased the products in bulk to remove them. Michael Osterholm, former Minnesota state epidemiologist, said the contamination likely was airborne or through other objects, like meat slicers, at the Texas plant. People who recently have eaten the recalled products may not see flu-like symptoms of the disease for another month, Osterholm said.
Listeria can cause fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, and diarrhea.
Healthy people recover quickly, but listeria can be fatal to children, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems. It is especially dangerous for pregnant women because it can cause miscarriages and stillbirths even if the mother experiences no symptoms. The disease causes an estimated 2,500 serious illnesses and 500 deaths in the U.S. each year. All rights reserved. All rights reserved.