WILLMAR, Minn. (AP) — Jennie-O Turkey Store in Willmar has recalled nearly 55,000 pounds of frozen, raw turkey burgers because the meat may have been contaminated with Salmonella, federal officials said.

Jennie-O said the product was distributed nationwide but sold only at Sam’s Club Stores.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the recall Saturday. The USDA could expand the recall as it continues to investigate illnesses connected to products from the Willmar-based turkey processing company, the West Central Tribune reported Sunday.

So far, 12 people in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Washington and Wisconsin have become ill over the last four months.

The recall includes 4-pound boxes of Jennie-O’s “All Natural Turkey Burgers with seasonings Lean White Meat.” Each box contains 12 individually wrapped burgers. The packages have a use-by date of Dec. 23, 2011, and identifying lot codes of “32710″ through “32780.”

The products were packaged on Nov. 23.

Jennie-O said the products were sold only at Sam’s Club. The company said consumers should not eat the turkey burgers, but should return them to a Sam’s Club store for a refund.

Jennie-O has created an online resource for consumers at
http://www.jennieo.com/recall
.

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