CNN
—

BrucePac, a maker of prepared meat and poultry products, has recalled more than 9.9 million pounds of product due to possible listeria contamination, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday.

Dozens of recalled products have been distributed nationwide to restaurants and institutions. The affected products may have been used in ready-to-eat products “on store shelves or in consumer refrigerators or freezers,” or available for use by restaurants and other establishments, the USDA said.

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service discovered the problem during routine product testing of finished poultry products, the federal agency said. BrucePac ready-to-eat chicken was identified as the source of the listeria, which may have affected other ready-to-eat meat and poultry products produced between June 19 and October 8.

Listeria bacteria cause listeriosis, the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States. Symptoms may include fever, muscle aches and fatigue. An infection can also cause a stiff neck, headache, confusion, or seizures. Those most at risk for serious consequences are older adults, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.

To date, there have been “no confirmed reports of adverse events resulting from consumption of these products,” the USDA said Wednesday. However, some people who become ill recover without being tested for listeria, and it usually takes weeks for an illness to be linked to an outbreak. It can take up to 10 weeks for symptoms of a listeria infection to appear.

“Restaurants, institutions and other establishments are urged not to serve or use these products. These products should be discarded or returned to the place of purchase,” the USDA said. “Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.”

This recall follows a deadly listeria outbreak linked to recalled Boar’s Head deli meat that is the nation’s largest in more than a decade. There have been 59 hospitalizations and 10 deaths since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began an investigation in July.