BrucePac, a producer of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products located in the United States, has announced a recall of 9.9 million pounds of its products due to possible contamination with listeria, as reported by U.S. authorities. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Wednesday, as reported by CNN. 

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service identified the contamination during routine testing of finished poultry products, pinpointing BrucePac’s ready-to-eat chicken as the source. The recall affects other meat and poultry items produced between June 19 and October 8.

Listeria bacteria can lead to listeriosis, a type of food poisoning that ranks as the third leading cause of foodborne illness-related deaths in the U.S. Symptoms of listeriosis may include fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, and in severe cases, it can result in stiff neck, confusion, headaches, or seizures. Vulnerable populations include older adults, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems.

Currently, there have been no confirmed illnesses associated with the recalled products. However, the USDA noted that symptoms can take up to 10 weeks to manifest, and some individuals may recover without being tested for listeria.

The recalled products were distributed nationwide to restaurants and institutions, and they may be found in ready-to-eat items that are still on store shelves or in consumers' refrigerators or freezers. The USDA has advised restaurants, institutions, and other establishments not to serve or use these products, recommending that they be discarded or returned to the point of purchase. Individuals who are concerned about potential illness should consult a healthcare provider.

This recall follows a recent deadly listeria outbreak connected to Boar’s Head deli meats, which has resulted in 59 hospitalizations and 10 fatalities since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began its investigation in July, marking it as the largest listeria outbreak in over a decade.