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Butterball Recalls Ground Turkey After 4 Fall Ill In Wisconsin

State Health Officials Investigating Outbreak That Sickened People In Wisconsin, Minnesota

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frozen turkey, butterball
A file photo from Dec. 7, 2009. AP Photo/Amy Sancetta

Butterball is recalling 78,000 pounds of raw turkey that might be contaminated contaminated with salmonella after four people in Wisconsin and another in Minnesota fell ill.

The people became sick with the same strain of salmonella schwarzengrund, which is genetically similar to turkey samples that were tested.

The turkey was packaged last July, according to Butterball spokewoman Christa Leupen.

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Company officials believe most of the turkey has already been eaten. Wisconsin health officials said that they’re concerned that people might still have ground turkey in their freezer.

“We’re hoping that people will just throw it out if they happen to have (turkey) that matches the UPC code and the expiration date for the products we’re talking about,” Leupen said.

The turkey products are sold under the Butterball, Kroger and Food Lion brands.

The following products are subject to recall:

  • 48-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “Butterball everyday Fresh Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring (85 percent lean, 15 percent fat)” with sell or freeze by date of July 26, 2018. 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 percent lean, 7 percent fat)” with sell or freeze by date of July 26, 2018. 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 percent lean, 15 percent fat)” with sell or freeze by date of July 26, 2018. 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 percent lean, 7 percent fat)” with sell or freeze by date of July 26, 2018. 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 percent lean, 15 percent fat)” with sell or freeze by date of July 26, 2018. Lot code 8188, and UPC code 111141097993 represented on the label.
  • 48-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “Food Lion (15 percent fat ground turkey with natural flavorings” with sell or freeze by date of July 26, 2018. Lot code 8188 and UPC code 3582609294 represented on the label.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is urging people to throw out the recalled turkey products or return it to the store where they were purchased.