SACRAMENTO, the United States, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) – A series of high-risk food recalls swept across the United States this year, raising concerns about food safety and putting consumers on high alert.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued 13 high-risk food recalls this year due to hazardous contamination, which has led to multiple fatalities and hospitalizations across the nation.

One of the most significant recalls involved BrucePac, a producer of pre-cooked meat and poultry products.

According to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, BrucePac recalled approximately 5.3 million kilograms of ready-to-eat food items on Oct. 9 due to potential listeria contamination.