Listeria recall: Bad meatballs sold at this big-box retailer pose 'high' health risk

Check the branding and dating on any ready-to-eat meatballs that may be taking up space in your freezer.

They may be part of the latest listeria recall.

The United States Department of Agriculture announced Thursday that Rich Products Corporation "appetizer style" beef meatballs that show, "Best if used by 17 DEC 2018," and a lot code of 15507351 could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The bacteria causes the infection listeriosis, which primarily affects adults.

The meatballs are sold under the Member's Mark brand in Sam's Club warehouse store locations, and the product affected by the recall was shipped to stores in Texas, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. This is a Class 1 recall, meaning that there is a reasonable probability that eating the affected products "will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death."

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn.

In addition, it can be even more serious, and sometimes fatal, in older adults and in those with weakened immune systems.

Consumers who have purchased these products should not consume them. They should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Matthew Martinez: 817-390-7667; @MCTinez817

This story was originally published January 25, 2018 at 8:48 AM with the headline "Listeria recall: Bad meatballs sold at this big-box retailer pose 'high' health risk."