Frozen meals served to students across the United States as part of federally-funded school breakfast and lunch programs may be contaminated with listeria and have been recalled, officials announced on Saturday.
The recall applies to approximately 91,585 pounds of prepackaged breakfast burritos and wraps manufactured by the California company M.C.I. Foods between September 17 and October 14. This information was provided by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), a branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that focuses on public health regulations.
The announcement cited seven different types of frozen breakfast products that could be tainted. These products are distributed to low-income students around the country as part of the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs, which the USDA administers.
The National School Breakfast Program served more than 14 million children in 2016, while close to 30 million children participated in the National School Lunch Program in 2019, according to the department.
There are no confirmed reports of illnesses tied to the recalled products. These include burritos and wraps sold under the brands El Mas Fino, Los Cabos, and Midamar. The products contain egg, cheese, and various meats such as beef, ham, sausage, and turkey, according to the FSIS.
The agency announced the recall after the manufacturer discovered listeria during routine testing on egg ingredients supplied by its external suppliers.
“FSIS is concerned that some product may be in institutional refrigerators or freezers,” the agency said. “Institutions are urged not to serve these products. These products should be thrown away.”
### About Listeria
Listeria is an infection caused by bacteria of the same name that spreads through contaminated food. Symptoms can include fever, headache, stiff neck, muscle aches, confusion, loss of balance, and a range of gastrointestinal problems, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The clinic warns that pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are at the highest risk of developing a harmful listeria infection.
People can be infected with listeria without becoming seriously ill, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, the CDC estimates that listeria is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the U.S., with approximately 1,250 people contracting the infection and 172 dying from it each year.
Public health officials note that flu-like symptoms caused by listeria can signal an “invasive” infection, meaning that the bacteria have spread from the gastrointestinal tract to other parts of the body. These invasive infections typically develop within two months of eating contaminated food, according to the CDC.
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For institutions and individuals who may have these products, it is critical to discard them immediately and avoid serving them to prevent potential health risks. Stay informed and check for updates from the USDA and FSIS regarding food safety recalls.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/listeria-recall-food-included-federal-school-breakfast-lunch-programs/
