Costco’s Frozen Section Is Now Part of the BrucePac Listeria Recall

People who shop at Costco may want to be extra careful because the store has issued another food recall. This comes just a few weeks after Kodiak Cake Waffles went off the shelves because of worries about contamination.

Right now, Red’s Southwestern Grilled Chicken Mini Burritos and El Monterey Mexican Grill Chicken & Cheese Taquitos are two well-known frozen foods that are being recalled because they might have Listeria on them. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said that these goods, sold in many Costco shops across the country, could be very bad for people’s health.

BrucePac, an Oklahoma company that makes pre-cooked meats, supplied the chicken used in these items, which caused the contamination.

The recall is meant to stop the spread of Listeria monocytogenes, a dangerous bacteria that can make people sick with diarrhea, fever, and sickness. In some cases, especially in groups that are more likely to be hurt, the illness can cause more serious health problems.

Details About the Call: What Kinds of Products Are Affected?

There are two specific items that this new Costco recall affects:

1. Grilled Chicken Mini Burritos from Red’s Southwestern

These little burgers were sold at Costco from October 1, 2024, to October 10, 2024.
The packages that are broken have the item number 1850156.
Foods with “best-by” dates of March 27, April 1, April 2, and April 7, 2026, are being recalled. The dates are located at the box’s base.

2. Taquitos with Chicken and Cheese from El Monterey Mexican Grill

The taquitos were sold from July 25, 2024, to October 11, 2024. They have the item number 18668.
The lot numbers and “best-by” dates are on the side of the box. Costco’s website has an area for recalls with a full list of the affected items.

Both products are very popular because they are easy to use and don’t cost much money. Busy families looking for quick meal options often buy them. However, if you bought either of these things not long ago, you should look at the package and compare the lot numbers and best-by dates to see if your product is part of the recall.

What to Do If You Own Items That Have Been Recalled

If you find that you bought one of the infected items, you can do one of the following:

Return the Item to Costco: Costco has an easy return process. You can take the broken items back to the store where you bought them and get a full refund, no questions asked.
Get in touch with the makers:

If you want to order Red’s Southwestern Grilled Chicken Mini Burritos, call their customer service line at 888-522-9408.
If you have any questions or worries about the El Monterey Mexican Grill Chicken & Cheese Taquitos you bought, call the company that made them.

In both cases, the companies are working closely with the USDA to handle the recall and remove any affected goods from the market.

How to Understand Listeria: Signs and Dangers

Some groups are more likely to get sick from Listeria monocytogenes, the bacteria being recalled. Know this:

Symptoms: A listeria infection can lead to several symptoms, such as feeling sick, having diarrhea, or having a fever. Some people get these symptoms just a few days after eating tainted food, while others may not get them for weeks or even a month.
At-Risk Groups: Healthy Adults may only have mild symptoms, but kids younger than 5, pregnant women, older adults, and people whose immune systems aren’t strong enough are more likely to get sick. Pregnant women need to be careful because listeria illness can cause major problems like miscarriage or death.
Severe Symptoms: Listeria can stiffen people’s necks, confuse them, cause headaches, and, in the worst cases, cause meningitis. If you or someone you care about has these symptoms and thinks they may have eaten contaminated food, you should see a doctor right away.

In What Way Is Listeria So Dangerous?

Listeria is a disease that can be spread through food. It grows best in certain conditions, like in ready-to-eat or pre-cooked foods like the tacos and taquitos that are being recalled.

Listeria is very dangerous because it can live and grow in cold places, like refrigerators and freezers. Even foods kept correctly and cooked as directed on the box can still be dangerous if contaminated.

Listeria can also have a long incubation period, meaning people may not know they have an illness for weeks after eating infected food. This makes it harder to find the cause of an outbreak and shows how important it is to pay attention to warnings like this one.

How Costco Is Dealing with the Recall

Costco took the initiative to issue the recall and inform members about the possible risks. On its website, the company has an area just for recalls where members can check for new information about affected goods.

This recall follows a string of others in the past few months, such as the Kodiak Cake Waffles recall in September, which was also caused by worries about contamination.

How Costco handled the recall shows how important food safety and openness are in retail. By putting out these warnings and letting customers return affected items for a full refund, Costco is trying to lower the risk of widespread sickness.

Conclusion

It’s important to be careful about food safety after the recent Red’s Southwestern Grilled Chicken Mini Burritos and El Monterey Mexican Grill Chicken & Cheese Taquitos recall. Listeria contamination can be very bad for your health, especially for people who are already weak, so you must act immediately if you think you bought one of the contaminated items.

To keep yourself and your family safe, always check the package for lot numbers and “best-by” dates, and if you need to, call the manufacturer’s customer service line or get a return. If you have any signs of a listeria illness, you should see a doctor immediately.

In the future, make it a habit to check Costco’s recall page often to see if there is any new information on goods that might be affected. By keeping informed and taking action, you can ensure that your shopping trip is safe and that no one in your home gets sick from food.

Even though this recall is bad news, Costco’s quick action and clear communication are good steps to keep customers safe from dangerous poisoning. Ensure you keep an eye on your freezer, check those product codes twice, and do what you must to stay safe.