Butterball Turkey Recall Affecting Minnesota
Butterball ground turkey is being recalled after an outbreak of salmonella, and it's affecting us here in Minnesota.
The USDA Food Safety Inspection Service announced late Wednesday that it was recalling nearly 80,000 pounds of Butterball ground turkey after it discovered possible contamination while investigating an outbreak of Salmonella illnesses involving five patients in Wisconsin and one here Minnesota, according to this ABC News story.
The USDA says the affected turkey includes products reading “EST. P-7345” inside the USDA mark of inspection. Here's the thing, though: The turkey in question was produced on July 7th of 2018-- meaning it's probably long gone from any stores shelves.
But, it could still be in your freezer. The release from the USDA said, "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."
And salmonella is no laughing matter. The USDA says, "The most common symptoms of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating the contaminated product. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Most people recover without treatment. In some persons, however, diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. Older adults, infants, and persons with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a severe illness. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact their health care provider."
You can get more information about the affected turkey products HERE.