By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-10-20 21:32:05 | Updated at 2024-10-20 23:37:39
2 hours ago
A South Dakota sandwich-maker is recalling a number of its burgers over fears they may have been contaminated with listeria.
The sandwiches are made by Dakota Tom’s Sandwiches in South Dakota, and were distributed in stores and truck stops in the Mount Rushmore State, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wyoming.
The sandwiches in question contain ingredients from a supplier who has already been contaminated, and include the group's Pepper Jack and Bacon cheeseburgers, and ground round known as the Gambler.
No illnesses have been reported, two days after the recall was issued.
In a statement, Dakota Tom’s Sandwiches explained how it is no longer using the patties that were possibly contaminated in its premade creations, as a nationwide recall of chicken and beef from BrucePac - now 11.7million-lbs strong - continues.
A South Dakota sandwich-maker is recalling a number of its burgers over fears they may have been contaminated with listeria. Pictured, Dakota Tom's Sandwiches premade Bacon Cheeseburger - one of three sandwiches being backtracked out of an abundance of caution
The burger, along with the South Dakota based firm's Gambler burger (seen here), are being called back due to being made from patties from a supplier that has already seen more than 11million pounds of product contaminated with the often deadly bacteria
The announcement from Dakota Tom's, meanwhile, revealed how the firm that bills its ingredients as 'high quality' and its sandwiches 'handmade' was voluntarily embarking on the recall due to its receiving ingredients from the company in question.
The burger patties used in the prewrapped bites, the company said, were included in the now nearly 12million pound recall from BrucePac.
'The ingredient supplier recall is due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination,' the statement added, not specifying the number of premade sandwiches being called back.
It appeared Friday on the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) website, as Oklahoma based BrucePac's practices continue to come under scrutiny.
The company earlier this month said the products affected were produced from June 19, 2024, to October 8, 2024.
They were shipped to other stores and distributors such as Dakota Tom's, potentially adding to the contamination's reach.
A third sandwich, the group's Pepper Jack burger, is also being recalled. The sandwiches are sold premade in the stores in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wyoming
In a statement, Dakota Tom’s Sandwiches explained how it is no longer using the patties that were possibly contaminated, as a nationwide recall of chicken and beef from BrucePac - the supplier that provided the patties - continues
As the recall widens, Dakota Tom's told customers the backtracked burgers all boast a best by date range of September 1, 2024 to November 23.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) discovered the listeria during routine product testing early last month, after widespread Boar's Head outbreak seen during the summer.
At the Oklahoma facility, ready-to-eat chicken tested positive for the deadly bacteria.
It was later identified as the source of the contamination, caused by the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.
While it's not known exactly which type of chicken is contaminated, ready-to-eat meat refers to food that comes in a package - as is the case with the burgers.
This could mean rotisserie chickens, chicken cold cuts, or other types of chicken-based meat are also at risk, months after the Boar's Head deli meat outbreak diminished consumer trust.
The recall saw the New York based company call back 7 million pounds of its meat, still some 3 million pounds fewer than the recall initiated by BrucePac.
Eating food with Listeria monocytogenes can cause a person to develop a listeriosis infection, which is extremely dangerous for elderly adults, those with compromised immune systems and pregnant women along with their newborns.
Dakota Tom's bills its ingredients as 'high quality', and said it voluntarily embarking on the recall out of an abundance of caution
Symptoms of listeriosis can include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. All of these symptoms can come after diarrhea or other digestion issues.
Pregnant women can experience miscarriages, stillbirths or premature delivery of their infant if infected with listeria.
Consumers who purchased the possibly tainted Dakota Tom's sandwiches were told Friday to return the items for a full refund, and to not consume.
Any other concerns should be aired to the company directly via phone call, they said.
This is a developing story; please check back for updates.
