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Butterball recalls ground turkey after 4 salmonella cases

Posted at 6:21 AM, Mar 15, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-15 07:21:44-04

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Butterball LLC issued a voluntarily recall of more than 78,000 pounds (35,400 kilograms) of raw ground turkey products nationwide Thursday as Wisconsin health officials investigate four salmonella cases in the state.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said the prepackaged ground turkey was produced on July 7, 2018, and the agency is worried some consumers may still have them in their freezers.

“Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them,” the agency said in a statement. “These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.”

The products had a sell- or freeze-by date of July 26, 2018.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services said the four patients have the same strain of salmonella and are linked to the Butterball ground turkey products being recalled. A Minnesota resident who reported eating ground turkey has the same strain of salmonella as the Wisconsin cases, but the brand of the product consumed is unknown, health officials said.

Butterball is based in Mount Olive, North Carolina.

The Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection and local health departments are aiding in the investigation by state health officials. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is also investigating.

The products being recalled have establishment number “EST. P-7345” in the USDA mark of inspection. The products were shipped to retail locations nationally.

Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, a bacterial foodborne illness with symptoms including fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps.

The following ground turkey products are currently under recall:

  • 48-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “BUTTERBALL everyday Fresh Ground Turkey WITH NATURAL FLAVORING (85% LEAN/15% FAT)” with sell or freeze by date of 7/26/18, lot code 8188, and UPC codes 22655-71555 or 22655-71557 represented on the label.
  • 48-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “BUTTERBALL everyday Fresh Ground Turkey WITH NATURAL FLAVORING (93% LEAN/7% FAT)” with sell or freeze by date of 7/26/18, lot code 8188 and UPC code 22655-71556 represented on the label.
  • 16-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “BUTTERBALL everyday Fresh Ground Turkey WITH NATURAL FLAVORING (85% LEAN/15% FAT)” with sell or freeze by date of 7/26/18, lot code 8188 and UPC code 22655-71546 represented on the label.
  • 16-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “BUTTERBALL everyday Fresh Ground Turkey WITH NATURAL FLAVORING (93% LEAN/7% FAT)” with sell or freeze by date of 7/26/18, lot code 8188 and UPC codes 22655-71547 or 22655-71561 represented on the label
  • 48-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “Kroger GROUND TURKEY FRESH 85% LEAN – 15% FAT” with sell or freeze by date of 7/26/18, lot code 8188, and UPC code 111141097993 represented on the label.
  • 48-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “FOOD LION 15% fat ground turkey with natural flavorings” with sell or freeze by date of 7/26/18, lot code 8188 and UPC code 3582609294 represented on the label.

For more information on the recall, click here.