Over the weekend, Costco announced a recall for its well-liked ready-to-eat meatloaf meal kits due to potential salmonella contamination, affecting locations in at least 26 states.
The product, labeled “Meatloaf with Mashed Yukon Potatoes and Glaze,” was flagged after concerns were raised by an ingredient supplier. According to the recall notice, “Griffith Foods, the raw material supplier, has issued a recall of the raw materials used in its meatloaf products because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.”
Griffith Foods is a family-owned manufacturer of food ingredients based in the Chicago area. Notably, Costco’s recall notice doesn’t specify which ingredients might be at risk.
This meal, identified by product number 30783, was available for sale from March 2nd to March 13th, just days before the salmonella concerns surfaced, with a buying window from March 5th to March 16th.
The recall impacts Costco stores across 26 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The affected states include Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Customers are urged not to consume the affected products and are advised to return them to their local Costco for a full refund. Interestingly, Costco stated that there have been no reported illnesses or injuries linked to this product.
The CDC notes that salmonella infections are a leading cause of foodborne illnesses in the U.S. This bacteria can lead to serious health issues, particularly for young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.
Typical symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain, which usually manifest within 6 hours to 6 days post-exposure. Most healthy individuals tend to recover without needing special medical treatment within about 4 to 7 days.
