Recent Major Chicken Recalls That Could Affect Your Family
Hey there! I’m always checking food safety news to keep my family safe, and lately there’ve been some pretty significant chicken recalls that I think you should know about. Nothing’s scarier than serving dinner only to find out later it might make your loved ones sick. So let’s dive into the latest chicken recalls and what you need to know to protect yourself.
The food industry has been hit with several major recalls recently, with the BrucePac recall being one of the largest and most concerning Let me break down what’s happening and which products you should check for in your fridge and freezer right away.
The Massive BrucePac Listeria Recall (2024)
The biggest chicken recall of recent months is definitely the BrucePac recall, which has affected nearly 12 million pounds of ready-to-eat chicken and turkey products. This is a huge deal that impacts numerous brands and retailers across the country.
What’s Being Recalled?
BrucePac is a pre-cooked meat producer whose products were found to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes during routine testing by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The recall affects products produced between June 19, 2024, and October 8, 2024.
Where Were These Products Sold?
The affected chicken products were sold at major retailers nationwide including:
- Trader Joe’s
- Walmart
- Aldi
- Target
- HEB
- Giant Eagle
- Kroger
- Costco
- Sprouts
Notable Brands Affected
The recall includes products with well-known brand names such as:
- Jenny Craig
- Atkins
- Signature Select
- Boston Market
- Amazon Fresh
- Michelina’s
- Rao’s
- Dole
- Red’s
Types of Products to Check
Most of the recalled items are ready-to-eat meals containing chicken or turkey, including:
- Salad bowls with chicken
- Rice bowls
- Pasta meals
- Burritos
- Frozen chicken meals
Specific Products to Look For
Some specific products in the recall include (but aren’t limited to):
- Red’s Grilled Chicken & Cheddar Burrito (lot code SD4271, best by March 27, 2026)
- Great Value Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo (lot code 24225, best by August 12, 2025)
- Jenny Craig Classic Chicken Carbonara (lot code 24243, best by February 21, 2026)
- Trader Joe’s Salad With BBQ Flavored Chicken (various best by dates between September 29-October 15, 2024)
- Atkins Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo (product code J4281, best by October 7, 2025)
- Boston Market Chicken Fajita Rice Bowl (product code J4268, best by September 24, 2025)
- Michelina’s Chicken Fried Rice (product code J4239 or J4270)
- Good & Gather Chicken Tikka Masala (lot code SO58227, best by February 28, 2026)
Other Recent Chicken Recalls
In addition to the BrucePac recall. there are other chicken products that have been recalled
Casa Mamita Chicken & Cheese Taquitos (Aldi)
Aldi recently recalled over 20,000 pounds of Casa Mamita Chicken & Cheese Taquitos due to potential metal contamination. Two consumers reported finding metal in these products, with one suffering a dental injury.
- Affected products: Packages with best-by dates of “07/03/25” or “09/25/25”
- Establishment number: EST. P-40327
Bettergoods Chicken Curry Empanadas (Walmart)
Walmart recalled Bettergoods Chicken Curry Empanadas following consumer complaints of misbranding. The chicken empanada packages may actually contain Apple Cinnamon Empanadas, resulting in undeclared allergens.
- Affected products: Boxes with best-by dates of “05/21/26” or “05/22/26”
- Establishment number: P33967
What is Listeria and Why Should You Care?
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria that can cause serious illness if consumed. The symptoms of listeria infection can range from mild to severe, and certain groups are particularly vulnerable:
High-Risk Groups:
- Pregnant women
- Newborns
- Older adults
- People with weakened immune systems
Symptoms of Listeria Infection:
Intestinal symptoms (usually start within 24 hours):
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Fever
Invasive listeria symptoms (more serious):
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Seizures
For pregnant women, listeria can lead to miscarriage, premature delivery, or stillbirth. It can also cause life-threatening infection in newborns.
What to Do If You Have Recalled Products
If you find that you have purchased any of the recalled chicken products, here’s what you should do:
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Don’t eat it! Even if the product looks and smells normal, the bacteria causing listeria cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted.
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Return or dispose: You can either return the product to the place of purchase for a refund or throw it away.
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Clean thoroughly: If you’ve stored the recalled product in your refrigerator, clean and sanitize any surfaces it may have touched.
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Monitor for symptoms: If you’ve consumed the recalled product, watch for symptoms of listeria infection, which can appear within a few days but may take up to 70 days to develop.
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Seek medical care: If you experience symptoms after consuming recalled products, contact your healthcare provider immediately, especially if you’re in a high-risk group.
Schools Affected by the Chicken Recall
It’s not just home kitchens that are affected. The FSIS has reported that hundreds of schools in at least 26 states and the District of Columbia received recalled chicken products. Schools in the following states may have received these products:
- Alaska
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Missouri
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Washington D.C.
Parents with children in these school districts might want to check with school administrators about whether meals served at school could have contained recalled products.
How to Stay Informed About Food Recalls
Food recalls happen regularly, and staying informed is crucial for keeping your family safe. Here are some reliable sources for recall information:
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USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS): Visit fsis.usda.gov/recalls for updates on meat, poultry, and egg product recalls.
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FDA Recalls: The FDA oversees recalls for other food products, as well as medications and cosmetics.
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Retailer Notifications: Many grocery stores will post recall notices or contact customers directly if they’ve purchased recalled items.
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Food Safety News Websites: Sites like EatingWell regularly publish updates on food recalls.
Tips for Preventing Foodborne Illness
While recalls are important to know about, you can also take steps to prevent foodborne illness in your kitchen:
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Cook chicken thoroughly: Always cook chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
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Avoid cross-contamination: Use separate cutting boards for raw chicken and other foods.
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Wash hands properly: Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after handling raw chicken.
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Store foods safely: Keep raw chicken on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator to prevent juices from dripping onto other foods.
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Be cautious with ready-to-eat foods: Pre-cooked foods like those in the BrucePac recall are convenient but can still pose risks if contaminated during production.
Food recalls, particularly those involving chicken products, are unfortunately common occurrences. The recent BrucePac listeria recall is especially concerning due to its widespread nature, affecting millions of pounds of ready-to-eat chicken products sold at major retailers across the country.
Stay safe and healthy, and keep an eye on those recalls. I’ll be keeping an eye out for any new developments and will update this post as needed!
Schools that may have received recalled poultry products
In addition to the many major grocery stores that received recalled chicken and turkey products, hundreds of schools in at least 21 states and the District of Columbia also received the tainted meals.
Schools that may have received these products are located in Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia, the FSIS said in a preliminary list released on Oct. 17, 2024.
The FSIS list of schools that received recalled poultry was updated on Oct. 24 to include more schools in Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, New Mexico and Vermont.
Ready-to-eat meat recall 2024
The FSIS first alerted consumers to the recall on Oct. 9, 2024.
During routine testing, the agency discovered Listeria monocytogenes, the bacteria that causes listeria infections, was present in ready-to-eat poultry products from BrucePac. Further testing traced the source of the bacteria back to BrucePac ready-to-eat chicken, the FSIS says.
The FSIS subsequently updated its list of recalled products on Oct. 10 and Oct. 11 to include more products.
There havent been any illnesses associated with the recall, but the FSIS is “concerned that some product may be available for use in restaurants, institutions and other establishments,” the alert says. Its also possible that those other institutions used the ready-to-eat poultry in products that are still on shelves or in consumers homes.
If you have any products included in the recall, you should not eat them. Instead, throw them away or return them to where you purchased the products.
Nearly 10 million pounds of meat, chicken recalled over listeria risk
FAQ
Which Tyson chicken products have been recalled?
Tyson’s most recent chicken product recall was announced in November 2023, affecting nearly 30,000 pounds of fully cooked, breaded, shaped chicken patties, specifically the “Tyson FULLY COOKED FUN NUGGETS,” due to potential contamination with metal pieces. Other past recalls include a 2021 recall for ready-to-eat chicken products due to potential Listeria contamination and a 2019 recall for millions of pounds of chicken strips due to possible metal contamination. For the most accurate and comprehensive information on current and past recalls, check the official Tyson Foods recall page or the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) website.
What brands of chicken are affected by the recall?
- Jenny Craig.
- Atkins.
- Signature Select.
- Boston Market.
- Amazon Fresh.
- Michelina’s.
- Rao’s.
- Dole.
What meat has been recalled for Listeria?
Was any perdue chicken recalled?
Perdue Foods recalled 167,171 pounds of frozen, ready-to-eat chicken breast nuggets and tenders on August 16, 2024, due to possible metal contamination. The affected products include certain Perdue Simply Smart Organics Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets, Perdue Chicken Breast Tenders, and Butcherbox Organic Chicken Breast Nuggets with a “Best If Used By” date of March 23, 2025. Consumers should not eat these products, but can dispose of them or return them to the store for a full refund.