WASHINGTON – Jennie-O Turkey Store Sales LLC, a subsidiary of Hormel Foods, announced the recall of approximately 147,276 lbs. of raw ground turkey products that may be associated with an illness outbreak of Salmonella Reading, according to the US Dept. of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The raw ground turkey products were produced on Sept. 11, 2018 and were shipped to retail locations nationwide.

The following products are subject to recall: 

  • 1-lb. packages of "Jennie-O GROUND TURKEY 93% LEAN | 7% FAT" with "Use by" dates of 10/01/2018 and 10/02/2018.
  • 1-lb. packages of "Jennie-O TACO SEASONED GROUND TURKEY" with a "Use by" date of 10/02/2018.
  • 1-lb. packages of "Jennie-O GROUND TURKEY 85% LEAN | 15% FAT" with a "Use by" date of 10/02/2018.
  • 1-lb. packages of "Jennie-O ITALIAN SEASONED GROUND TURKEY" with a "Use by" date of 10/02/2018.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “P-190” inside the USDA mark of inspection. 

Jennie-O released the following statement regarding the ongoing Salmonella outbreak on Nov. 16

“On behalf of the thousands of Jennie-O team members, we were concerned to learn that someone became ill after exposure to Salmonella in a raw turkey product,” said Steve Lykken, president of Jennie-O. “The turkey industry has been working together for many years to reduce Salmonella. Despite these efforts, this particular Salmonella strain can be found in 29 different manufacturing plants from 19 different companies, according to government agencies. We know the issue of Salmonella isn't specific to Jennie-O, and to that end, we plan on continuing our leadership role in the effort to reduce Salmonella and educate consumers on how to safely handle and prepare raw turkey and are calling on others in the industry to do the same. We will continue to collaborate on industry best practices with our peers in the turkey industry.”

This recall is part of the ongoing multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on Nov. 9.

The agency said the outbreak started on Nov. 20, 2017 and caused 164 people to become ill in 35 states. People reported eating different types and brands of turkey products purchased from many different stores. They have also noted cases of Salmonella from people who handle raw turkey pet food and/or raw turkey, work with live turkeys or live with someone who handled live turkeys.

According to the FSIS release, the agency along with public health partners and the Arizona Dept. of Health Services, have been conducting traceback activities for a sample of Jennie-O brand ground turkey in an intact, unopened package from a case-patient’s home. The patient tested positive for Salmonella Reading and the sample from the ground turkey matches the outbreak strain.   

FSIS is concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers’ freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

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