US Government Recalls Millions of School Breakfasts Due to Listeria Concerns
The US Department of Agriculture has announced a massive recall of frozen breakfast meals served to millions of low-income students across the country. Approximately 91,585 pounds of prepackaged breakfast burritos and wraps, manufactured by California-based M.C.I. Foods, have been pulled from sale due to potential contamination with listeria.
The affected products are part of federally-funded school breakfast and lunch programs that serve over 40 million children nationwide each year. While there have been no confirmed reports of illnesses linked to the recalled items, the Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a warning for institutions not to serve these products and instead dispose of them immediately.
M.C.I. Foods discovered listeria during routine testing on egg ingredients supplied by external suppliers. The recall affects seven different types of frozen breakfast products sold under various brands, including El Mas Fino, Los Cabos, and Midamar, which contain common ingredients such as eggs, cheese, and meats like beef, ham, sausage, and turkey.
Listeria is a serious bacterial infection that can spread through food, causing symptoms ranging from fever and headache to muscle aches, confusion, and loss of balance. Pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems are at the highest risk of developing a severe infection.
According to public health officials, listeria is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the US, resulting in an estimated 1,250 reported cases and 172 fatalities each year. Invasive infections caused by listeria can develop within two months of eating contaminated food, making prompt action crucial to prevent serious complications.
The recall comes as multiple listeria outbreaks have been reported in recent weeks, including a deadly incident involving nearly 245,000 pounds of precooked pasta from California-based Nate's Fine Foods. The US government's swift response has likely prevented further cases of illness and death associated with these products.
The US Department of Agriculture has announced a massive recall of frozen breakfast meals served to millions of low-income students across the country. Approximately 91,585 pounds of prepackaged breakfast burritos and wraps, manufactured by California-based M.C.I. Foods, have been pulled from sale due to potential contamination with listeria.
The affected products are part of federally-funded school breakfast and lunch programs that serve over 40 million children nationwide each year. While there have been no confirmed reports of illnesses linked to the recalled items, the Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a warning for institutions not to serve these products and instead dispose of them immediately.
M.C.I. Foods discovered listeria during routine testing on egg ingredients supplied by external suppliers. The recall affects seven different types of frozen breakfast products sold under various brands, including El Mas Fino, Los Cabos, and Midamar, which contain common ingredients such as eggs, cheese, and meats like beef, ham, sausage, and turkey.
Listeria is a serious bacterial infection that can spread through food, causing symptoms ranging from fever and headache to muscle aches, confusion, and loss of balance. Pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems are at the highest risk of developing a severe infection.
According to public health officials, listeria is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the US, resulting in an estimated 1,250 reported cases and 172 fatalities each year. Invasive infections caused by listeria can develop within two months of eating contaminated food, making prompt action crucial to prevent serious complications.
The recall comes as multiple listeria outbreaks have been reported in recent weeks, including a deadly incident involving nearly 245,000 pounds of precooked pasta from California-based Nate's Fine Foods. The US government's swift response has likely prevented further cases of illness and death associated with these products.