Kraft Heinz Recalls 2 Million Pounds of Turkey Bacon

From ice cream to peas and broccoli, all kinds of food products are subject to recalls each and every year. For concerns ranging from listeria to salmonella, food producers and manufacturers regularly pull products back off of the shelves and warn their customers not to eat tainted foods.

In one of the latest examples of a widespread food recall, Kraft Heinz has recalled more than two million pounds of turkey bacon produced between May 31, 2015 and August 6, 2015 over concerns that it may spoil before its “Best When Used By” date. The USDA reports that the problem was discovered after customers complained to the company about spoilage.

While the U.S. Department of agriculture (USDA) has not yet confirmed any reports of people falling ill due to consumption of spoiled turkey bacon, Kraft Heinz has reportedly received complaints of illnesses from consumers. The USDA is urging anyone who suspects that they might be ill to seek prompt medical attention.

Class II USDA Recall for Turkey Bacon

The USDA is to food recalls what the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is to automotive recalls. Each agency is responsible for monitoring, reporting on, and addressing product recalls in their respective industries. When it comes to food recalls, the USDA categorizes spoiled and other defective and unsafe foods into three “Classes”:

• Class III – The defect or issue is not expected to cause adverse health consequences.
• Class II – The problem presents a potential health hazard with a “remote probability of adverse health consequences.”
• Class I – The problem presents a potential health hazard with a “reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.”

The Kraft Heinz turkey bacon recall has been deemed a Class II. Examples of Class I recalls include things like the presence of E. coli in raw beef or the presence of pathogens in meat and poultry products that are ready for consumption.

What to do if You have Gotten Sick from a Spoiled and Dangerous Food Product

If you, your spouse, or your child has gotten sick from a spoiled or dangerous food product, you may be entitled to financial compensation. From a legal perspective, problems with food products are similar to other kinds of product defects. This means (among other things) that any company involved in the chain of distribution may be liable for your condition or your family member’s illness.

Product defect cases can be challenging, and one of the most important things you can do is to preserve as much evidence as possible. This means that you should:

• Seek immediate medical attention and obtain copies of your records,
• Keep any packaging and leftover food products, and
• Speak with a knowledgeable products liability lawyer as soon as possible.

Suffering a food-related illness can be scary, and manufacturers of defective products deserve to be held liable for putting dangerous products on the shelves. If you believe you may have a claim, you should not hesitate to seek legal representation.

Contact Berkowitz and Hanna LLC today to schedule a no obligation case evaluation. Call us or contact us online to get started.