UPDATE, 12:45 p.m.: 

Humboldt Jerky Co. Owner Jennifer Roby tells the Outpost that none of the company’s contaminated jerky was ever sold to customers.

Roby said that the company learned about the contamination on either Monday or Tuesday, and that it previously opted not to issue a statement on the recall because no customers received the product.

“We were notified of the exposure very early on,” Roby said. “The jerky was actually returned to [Boyd Specialties] on their request. We take health and safety seriously.”

Humboldt Jerky Co. has since been reimbursed for the possible contamination. However, Roby said that the recall may temporarily affect the company’s inventory.

“It takes quite a while for [jerky] to be made, so it can’t be immediately reproduced,” she said.

Read more about the recall in the article below.

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The USDA has recalled nearly a dozen Humboldt Jerky Co. products as part of a sweeping recall for possible listeria contamination that includes 1,634 pounds of ready-to-eat jerky sold by 18 different companies across eight states.

The department’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the recall on Friday, after a sample from meat snacks maker Boyd Specialties, LLC in Colton, Calif., tested positive for listeria during a routine inspection.

“There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products,” the USDA stated. “Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.”

Eleven jerky products produced by Boyd Specialties for Humboldt Jerky Co. may have been contaminated by listeria. The Fortuna-based company’s recalled brisket beef jerky flavors include: Garlic Pepper, Carne Asada, Mango Habanero, Carolina Reaper, Ole Cracked Pepper, Teriyaki, Oh That’s Hot, Cowboy Style Carolina Reaper, Cowboy Style Original, Peppered Orange Teriyaki, and Boysenberry.

The USDA is urging consumers to either throw these products away or return them to their place of purchase.

“Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns,” the USDA stated. “Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.”

The company has not issued a statement about the recall on its website or social media pages at this time.

Click this link for a complete list of brands and products included in the recall.

Listeriosis information from the USDA:

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.