The Department of Agriculture in the United States has issued a public health alert on the consumption of sausage and bratwurst products. The department is concerned about contamination of the sausage with bacteria known as Listeria monocytogenes, which may cause illness.
The USDA has warned the public on the use of sausage products from the freezers produced by Bluegrass Provisions Co. in Kentucky.
The department issued the alert to notify people regarding the use of contaminated sausages and bratwurst might cause serious infections. The bacteria Listeria monocytogenes can affect older adults, pregnant women, newborn children, and people with a weak immune system, causing listeriosis.
A health alert was issued for the 14-ounce packages of Bluegrass mettwurst, Walnut creek foods, Smoked bratwurst (including with cheese) with the freeze or use date of end July. An establishment number “EST 7417” is issued inside the USDA inspection mark on the sausage products.
The Department of Agriculture discovered the threat in routine testing of the products, which showed contamination of Listeria monocytogenes. However, there is a chance that cross-contamination might affect other products. According to the USDA,
“Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.”
Imbalance of Listeriosis can be a cause of fever, headaches, muscle aches, confusion, stiff necks, convulsions, loss of balance, and in the worse case, might cause diarrhea or gastrointestinal problems.
The public health alert was issued to keep people from the use of contaminated products that can cause fatal infection in older adults, and people with weak immune systems. Likewise, pregnant women are at risk of stillbirth, miscarriages, premature birth, or even a life-threatening infection in the newborn child.
