Urgent Alert: Listeria Contamination Prompts Recall of Frozen Meatball Meals Sold at Walmart

A critical public health alert has been issued, urging consumers to immediately check their freezers for specific frozen meatball meals sold under the Great Value and Parent's Choice brands at Walmart stores. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced a recall impacting products manufactured by Rich Products Corporation due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

This widespread recall involves various lot numbers and 'best by' dates, making it crucial for consumers to meticulously review any frozen meatball meals they may have at home.

The affected products include popular choices often found in household freezers, designed for quick and convenient meals. The presence of Listeria monocytogenes poses a serious health risk, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause listeriosis, a severe infection that can be fatal.

Symptoms often include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. While healthy individuals might only experience short-term symptoms like high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, Listeria infection can be particularly dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems.

For pregnant women, listeriosis can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.

Rich Products Corporation initiated this recall after the potential contamination was identified. Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled frozen meatball meals are strongly advised not to consume them.

Instead, they should either discard the product immediately or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. It is also recommended to thoroughly clean and sanitize any surfaces that might have come into contact with the contaminated food to prevent cross-contamination.

The FSIS and Rich Products Corporation are working diligently to ensure that all affected products are removed from store shelves and that consumers are adequately informed.

This recall underscores the importance of food safety and vigilance in checking product labels for recall information. Consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Rich Products Corporation directly for further assistance and specific product details.