Kraft-Heinz Is Recalling Oscar Mayer Ready-to-Eat Lunch Meat Due to Possible Contamination

Ashley Abramson
Ashley Abramson
Ashley Abramson is a writer-mom hybrid in Minneapolis, MN. Her work, mostly focused on health, psychology, and parenting, has been featured in the Washington Post, New York Times, Allure, and more. She lives in the Minneapolis suburbs with her husband and two young sons.
published Dec 8, 2022
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Oscar Meyes sliced cold cuts for sale in a supermarket shelf
Credit: Calimedia/Shutterstock

If you’re a sandwich aficionado, or you just like to keep lunch meat on hand, now’s a great time to check your fridge for a recalled product. On December 5, Kraft Heinz Food Company announced a recall of approximately 2,400 pounds of processed meat due to “possible cross contamination with under-processed products.”

According to a press release from the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), Kraft Heinz disclosed its packaged, ready-to-eat ham and cheese loaf had been sliced on the same equipment as under-processed food. The equipment was not cleaned in between, which may have resulted in cross-contamination. 

Affected products, all sold in 16-ounce packages, were distributed in Ohio and Virginia. The USDA urges consumers in those states to check their homes for this product. The labels of affected ham and cheese loaf list establishment number “Est 537V” inside the USDA inspection mark, along with the codes from “07 Feb 2023 20:40 7B” through “07 Feb 2023 22:16 7B.” If you find any of these products in your home, return them where you initially bought them or throw them out. 

Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, eating undercooked meat can cause foodborne illness, such as salmonella. To date, the USDA has not announced any reports of adverse reactions from consuming the affected products. If you’re concerned about your health after consuming a potentially affected Kraft Heinz product, however, be in touch with your medical provider.

Consumers can contact Lynsey Elve, associate director of global corporate communications at Kraft Heinz, at lynsey.elve@kraftheinz.com or call the Kraft Heinz Food Company consumer hotline at 1-866-572-3806 with questions or concerns.

Wondering what other recalls and public health alerts have been issued lately from your favorite brands? Check out this page that’s updated regularly to stay in the know.