USDA Issues Public Health Alert For Ready-To-Eat Ham Sold At Some Walmart Stores

The United States Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert on May 18, 2022, for Great Value brand ready-to-eat ham that may not be fully cooked due to under-processing. The ready-to-eat ham has not been recalled because FSIS does not believe the product is still available for purchase at Walmart stores.

The ready-to-eat Black Forest Ham was produced between April 28, 2022, and May 1, 2022, and was shipped to Walmart stores in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. If you have this product in your fridge or freezer, do not consume it — instead, throw it away or return it to the place of purchase.

Check the packaging and establishment number to determine if you have the impacted product. The ham that is subject to the public health alert is the one-pound resealable package of Great Value Black Forest Ham Water Added with a "best used" date of 07/15/22 and an establishment number of "EST. 26C."

The issue was discovered when the production firm, Plumrose USA, alerted FSIS that the product did not appear to be fully cooked and was found to be underprocessed. However, there have not been any confirmed illnesses that resulted from consuming the product.

If you have questions about the alert, you can contact Rusty Parker, Strategic Accounts Manager, Swift Prepared Foods, at 479-268-7131.