School lunch burritos recalled nationwide for possible listeria

NEW YORK (WPIX) — Ready-to-eat burritos shipped nationwide, including to schools, have been recalled due to possible listeria contamination, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

M.C.I Foods Inc., based in Santa Fe Springs, California, recalled over 90,000 pounds of individually packaged and bulk-packed frozen breakfast burritos and wraps. The company said the products contain eggs that may have Listeria monocytogenes.

The products from Midamar, Los Cabos and El Más Fino brands, were produced between Sept. 17 and Oct. 14 and shipped to foodservice institutions around the country. The products are included in the National School Lunch Program, which assists children with low-cost or free lunches each school day.

Products effected include:

• El Más Fino: Egg, ham and cheese breakfast burrito - item code 00607
• El Más Fino: Egg, sausage and cheese breakfast burrito - item code 00608
• Los Cabos: Sausage, egg and 3 cheese brakfast burrito - item code 61304
• Los Cabos: Egg, cheese, potato and cooked sausage crumble breakfast wrap - item codes 77869 and 97869
• Los Cabos: Egg, cheese and cooked sausage crumble breakfast wrap - item code 97892
• Los Cabos: Cheese, cooked sausage crumbles and egg breakfast wrap - item code 97896
• Midamar: Egg, cheese and beef with sausage seasoning breakfast wrap - item code MMBK03

According to the USDA, the recalled products have the establishment numbers "EST. 1162A" or "P-5890A" printed in the USDA mark of inspection.

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service was notified of the positive listeria result in scrambled eggs in the products. As of Saturday, the USDA said there had been no reports of illness from the food.

Listeriosis can cause fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches, confusion, loss of balance and other symptoms. Pregnant women, newborns, adults 65 and older and people with weakened immune systems are especially at risk of potentially life-threatening illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Since Listeria can survive in the refrigerator and even in the freezer, the USDA is urging schools and other institutions to check for the burritos and throw away any they find.

For more information on the recall, click here.