We expect the foods that we buy to be safe for consumption. Unfortunately, that is not always the case and sometimes the foods we buy pose potential safety hazards. Often foods are recalled because of potential contamination – either from potential materials that should not be in there or by dangerous bacteria. Recently, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection service announced a recall of over 78,000 pounds of Butterball ground turkey.

The recall comes after the discovery that the turkey may be contaminated with Salmonella. The turkey included in the recall was produced on July 7, 2018 and has the product number “EST. P-7345.” The recalled turkey products were shipped and sold across the country. A variety of products and sizes of products are included in the recall, but all of the recalled products include ground turkey.

The products may contain Salmonella. If consumed, people may get salmonella food borne illnesses. These illnesses typically present symptoms within one to three days after consumption of a contaminated food product. The symptoms of a salmonella illness include diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever. The symptoms can last anywhere from four to seven days. Most people will recover from the sickness without receiving medical treatment. If the symptoms are severe, individuals should go see a doctor for medical advice.

If you have any of the recalled ground turkey products in the freezer, you should throw them away and not consume them. Individuals can also call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline if they have any additional questions regarding the recall during normal business hours. Additionally, there are recorded food safety messages available 24 hours a day.