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Millions of pounds of grab-and-go foods recalled

Americans today eat on the run more than any time in history. Don’t have time for breakfast in the morning? Grab a donut on the way to work. No time for lunch before you have to get back to the office for a meeting? Get yourself a sandwich to scarf down before heading back. The rest of the family has plans tonight? Looks like you’re picking up something for yourself from the grocery store. If any of these scenarios fit you, the latest recall is of special importance.

Grab-and-go foods such as: ready-to-eat salads, premade meals, burritos, warps, and pizzas have all been recalled from retailers that include “Harris Teeter, Kroger, Whole Foods, 7-Eleven, Trader Joe's and Walmart have been recalled due to the potential risk of listeria and salmonella contamination.” One company is at the center of the recall and investigation, and that’s McCain Foods. However, the number of food manufacturers mentioned in the recall number a dozen, and include “Bakkavor Foods, Envolve Foods and Ruiz Food Products” among others. The list of ingredients potentially tainted with bacteria include: corn, diced onions, and other vegetables.

Less than a thousand pounds of foods were initially listed in the USDA recall, but that number now nearly measures in the millions. More than 1,500 people contract listeriosis each year, and almost 20 percent of them end up dying from it. Those numbers pale in comparison to the more than 1 million cases of salmonella Americans suffer from each year, resulting in 20,000+ hospitalizations, and almost 500 deaths.

If you’re experiencing symptoms such as diarrhea, fever or abdominal cramps within 12 to 72 hours of eating any possibly contaminated foods, you should seek medical attention immediately.

To read USA Today’s full story on the latest FDA recall, click here: https://bit.ly/2EMQT3c