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1,300 TONS of Goya and other brand canned sausages recalled in the US for fears they may be contaminated with ‘foodborne pathogens’
Nearly 2.6 million pounds of canned meat has been recalled for packaging issues that could cause food to spoil or allow pathogens to enter and infect it.
Fort Madison, Iowa-based Conagra Brands is recalling the product over the defects. Brands whose products were recalled include Goya, Kroger and Great Value meats.
In total, 18 products were affected. The products were produced between December 12 and January 12 and were sold across the country.
Canned meat is shelf-stable, unlike fresh or frozen meat, since sealing can protect it from pathogens that cause it to spoil or become infected with pathogens. As long as the can remains undamaged, canned meat can last for decades.
Goya’s Vienna sausages are among 18 canned meat products recalled by the USDA due to potential packaging issues. There is a fear that damaged packaging could allow the formation of foodborne illnesses.
The leakage of fluids from the can, found in these cases, indicates that the protection against spoilage is no longer present.
Meat will spoil very quickly if left unsealed and unrefrigerated.
The recall issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) comes days after the agency recalled 27 tons of deli meats for possible listeria contamination.
The USDA is not yet reporting any cases of illness associated with this recall.
However, the agency’s food safety experts are concerned that dangerous meats are currently in the pantries of many Americans.
The packaging problems were detected when the leak came from certain cans.
They urge customers to check recently purchased canned meats for a lot number of P4247, and if so, throw them out or return them.
“Cans subject to recall may have been damaged in a way that is not apparent to consumers, which may allow foodborne pathogens to enter the cans,” Conagra said in a statement.
Spoiled meat often becomes infected with foodborne bacteria such as Penicillium, Mucor, Cladosporium, Alternaria, Sporotrichium, and Thamnidium.
Symptoms associated with infections by these bacteria include vomiting, nausea, headaches, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.
A person may not feel symptoms of eating infected meat until days later.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 48 million foodborne illnesses each year.
These cases are responsible for 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths each year, the agency reports.