Ready to recall: These meats are behind 40% of USDA food warnings
Sentient found contamination and Listeria drove most warnings, with 71.4 million pounds of meat and poultry recalled in 2025, more than the prior six years combined.
- Ready-to-Eat meats account for at least 40% of all USDA food safety warnings between 2014 and 2025, according to a Sentient analysis of 1,163 recalls and public health alerts.
- Listeria thrives in moist processing environments typical for RTE meats, says Ellen Shumaker, director of outreach at North Carolina State University Extension, citing ideal bacterial growth conditions.
- In 2025, the USDA recalled 71.4 million pounds of meat due largely to foreign objects like glass and metal, while 37 million pounds of frozen chicken and pork were deemed unsafe for consumption.
- Earlier this month, the USDA investigated an Illinois Listeria outbreak linked to contaminated pork deli meats, or headcheese, with three people sickened in the state.
- The FDA advises heating RTE meats to 165°F to eliminate bacteria, as cooking significantly reduces foodborne illness risk even for healthy individuals consuming these products.
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Ready to recall: These meats are behind 40% of USDA food warnings - Stateline Publications
Ready to recall: These meats are behind 40% of USDA food warningsA staggering 37 million pounds of frozen chicken and pork products, much of it ready to eat, is no longer considered safe for consumption after being shipped to retailers, including Trader Joe’s, across the U.S. and exported to Canada and Mexico. Four customers complained about glass shards in the food to the manufacturer, Ajinomoto Foods North America, which issued a recall and al…
Ready to recall: These meats are behind 40% of USDA food warnings - Seward Independent
Ready to recall: These meats are behind 40% of USDA food warningsA staggering 37 million pounds of frozen chicken and pork products, much of it ready to eat, is no longer considered safe for consumption after being shipped to retailers, including Trader Joe’s, across the U.S. and exported to Canada and Mexico. Four customers complained about glass shards in the food to the manufacturer, Ajinomoto Foods North America, which issued a recall and al…
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