Hundreds of pounds of meat products sold at a number of co-op grocery stores and Minneapolis dining spots has now been recalled.
On April 3, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture alerted consumers to not eat specific lots of pork, beef, pepper sticks, and other products produced by Belgrade Meat Center, located in Belgrade, which is in central Minnesota.
Routine sampling of the meat showed listeria was present, rendering the meat products defective.
The department has not yet received any reports of illness associated with the meat products and investigators are working to determine where the contamination came from.
Some of the meat was distributed under the name Pastures A Plenty. The recalled products include:
- Linden Hills Co-op in Minneapolis and Duluth Whole Foods – Uncured smoked breakfast links. This product may also b served at Café barbette, Gigi Café, and Bryant-Lake Bowl.
- Natedogs Mobile Food Card in the Twin Cities – Uncured pork wieners and smoked bratwurst.
- Selby Avenue Mississippi Market and the St. Paul location, as well as the River Market in Stillwater – Uncured pork wieners.
- The meat center’s retail location in Belgrade – 20 pound packages of pepper sticks. Consumers have been asked to return packages showing the lot number 318130 to the store to receive a refund.
Individuals who believe they have become ill from the meat products are encouraged to contact their doctor. While listeriosis is an uncommon disease, it is potentially serious. The common symptoms are a fever, neck stiffness, severe headache, and nausea. There are times when listeriosis can lead to fatal infections, especially in the elderly, infants, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis can also cause stillbirths and miscarriages.