Class Action Lawsuit Claims Oscar Mayer Failed to Warn Consumers of Listeria in Turkey Bacon

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A proposed class action lawsuit claims that The Kraft Heinz Company failed to disclose that several now-recalled Oscar Mayer turkey bacon products were contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a potentially deadly pathogen.

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The 27-page lawsuit accuses Kraft Heinz of inadequately and misleadingly labeling the Oscar Mayer turkey bacon products at issue, as Listeria monocytogenes may be life-threatening and cause significant health effects, particularly in infants, the elderly, pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals.

Though Kraft Heinz recalled the affected Oscar Mayer products in early July 2025, the class action lawsuit contends that the initiative was insufficient given that it was “intentionally structured to prevent the majority of consumers from obtaining a refund.”

“Defendant’s recall targets a limited number of individuals, ultimately benefiting only a select group of consumers who have purchased the Products,” the complaint charges.

According to the complaint, the affected Oscar Mayer turkey bacon products include:

• 12oz. vacuum-packed packages with the universal product code “"071871548601,” use by dates between July 18, 2025 and August 2, 2025, and lot code “RS40;”
• 36oz. packages containing three 12oz. vacuum-packed packages, with the universal product code “"071871548748,” use by dates between July 23, 2025 and September 4, 2025, and lot codes “RS19,” “RS40” or “RS42;” and 48oz. packages, which contain four 12oz. vacuum-packed packages, with the universal product code “071871548793,” use by dates between July 18, 2025 and September 4, 2025, and lot codes “RS19,” “RS40” or “RS42.”

Per the lawsuit, the consumption of the listeria bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes) can cause listeriosis, which the World Health Organization states is among the most severe and life-threatening foodborne diseases.

The case states that listeriosis can cause a range of issues and conditions, including sepsis, spontaneous abortion, fever, encephalitis and meningitis, among others. Even individuals in perfect health may be susceptible to issues such as gastroenteritis if they consume listeria-infested foods, the filing writes.

Additionally, the lawsuit relays that listeria-related infections, complications and illnesses have a hospitalization rate of 95 percent and a mortality rate of 20 percent to 30 percent. The suit also says that listeriosis is challenging to treat, as the treatment itself can pose a mortality risk in the early post-recovery phase.

The lawsuit claims that knowledge of the Oscar Mayer Listeria contamination was “exclusively within [Kraft Heinz’s] possession,” and that consumers relied on the defendant’s marketing and label representations in purchasing the products. The case says that the presence or potential presence of Listeria monocytogenes renders the Oscar Mayer turkey bacon purchased by consumers “devoid of value.”

The filing points out that two days after the Oscar Mayer recall was initiated, Kraft Heinz, in a separate statement, instructed consumers to throw out any recalled packages of the turkey bacon in their possession. Per the lawsuit, Kraft Heinz was aware that most consumers would be likely to throw away the affected products, and that those who sought refunds likely would not be able to effectively return the contaminated food, including because most consumers discard receipts.

The Oscar Mayer class action lawsuit seeks to represent anyone who purchased the affected products within the applicable statute of limitations period. Looking for current class action lawsuits to join? Check out ClassAction.org’s class action lawsuit list.