Butterball recalls 78,000 pounds of raw ground turkey

Butterball is recalling more than 78,000 pounds of raw ground turkey over fears that the products may be contaminated with salmonella.

The recall was announced Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The prepackaged raw ground turkey was produced on July 7, 2018, with the following products subject to the recall:

48-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “BUTTERBALL everyday Fresh Ground Turkey WITH NATURAL FLAVORING (85% LEAN/15% FAT)” with sell or freeze by date of 7/26/18, lot code 8188, and UPC codes 22655-71555 or 22655-71557 represented on the label
48-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “BUTTERBALL everyday Fresh Ground Turkey WITH NATURAL FLAVORING (93% LEAN/7% FAT)” with sell or freeze by date of 7/26/18, lot code 8188 and UPC code 22655-71556 represented on the label
16-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “BUTTERBALL everyday Fresh Ground Turkey WITH NATURAL FLAVORING (85% LEAN/15% FAT)” with sell or freeze by date of 7/26/18, lot code 8188 and UPC code 22655-71546 represented on the label
16-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “BUTTERBALL everyday Fresh Ground Turkey WITH NATURAL FLAVORING (93% LEAN/7% FAT)” with sell or freeze by date of 7/26/18, lot code 8188 and UPC codes 22655-71547 or 22655-71561 represented on the label
48-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “Kroger GROUND TURKEY FRESH 85% LEAN – 15% FAT” with sell or freeze by date of 7/26/18, lot code 8188, and UPC code 111141097993 represented on the label
48-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “FOOD LION 15% fat ground turkey with natural flavorings” with sell or freeze by date of 7/26/18, lot code 8188 and UPC code 3582609294 represented on the label

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. P-7345” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to institutional and retail locations nationwide.

The products may be contaminated with Salmonella Schwarzengrund, FSIS said in a news release.

The potential contamination was discovered by FSIS and several other organizations investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Schwarzengrund illnesses involving five cases from two states.

Three intact Butterball brand ground turkey samples were collected from a Wisconsin residence where four of the patients live, FSIS said in the news release.

Eating food contaminated with salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses, according to FSIS. The most common symptoms of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever within 12 to 72 hours of eating the contaminated food.

The illness usually lasts four to seven days with most people recovering without treatment. However, older adults, infants and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a severe illness.

Any consumers who have purchased some of the recalled turkey are advised to either throw the food away or return it to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions about the recall should call 1-800-288-8372.