Since mid-July, there have been two recalls for salad greens grown in greenhouses, one of them in conjunction with a multistate Salmonella outbreak. These recalls have some consumers wondering how does greenhouse-grown lettuce get contaminated with pathogens? The first recall was linked to herbs and salad greens produced by BrightFarms of Rochelle, IL. On July 15, BrightFarms issued a recall for a variety of products packaged in clamshell containers and sold at grocery stores in five states. On July 22, health officials identified BrightFarms salad greens and herbs as the source of a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened 11 people in Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. In recent years, consumers have learned from a string of E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks that neighboring livestock farms can … [Read more...]
Queso Fresco Listeria Outbreak Spotlights High Risk for Pregnant Women
The ongoing queso fresco Listeria outbreak is spotlighting the tremendous risk listeriosis poses to pregnant women, especially those who are Hispanic. Pregnant women are 10 times more likely than the general population to contract Listeria infections, 24 times more likely if they are Hispanic. And, among pregnant women, Listeria can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth and infection in newborns even if the expectant mother only experiences mild symptoms. In this outbreak, linked to cheeses produced by El Abuelito of Paterson, NJ, 11 people have been sickened and one person has died, according to the latest information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Two of the 11 illnesses are pregnancy-associated and include a newborn and a pregnant woman who … [Read more...]
Multiple Grocery Stores Update Secondary Listeria Monocytogenes Recalls for Produce
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration reports that several grocery stores that issued secondary recalls of produce products last week have either updated or revised their lists of the items subject to recall. These recalls were prompted by the large-scale recall by Salinas, CA-based Mann’s Packing of thousands of pounds of minimally processed vegetables they distributed across the United States and Canada. This original recall was announced after the Canadian Inspection Service revealed it had found a single positive result of Listeria monocytogenes contamination during a random sampling of Mann Packing’s Produce. Listeria is a very serious variety of food poisoning that is particularly dangerous to pregnant women and their unborn children – it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or … [Read more...]
Ready. Chef. Go! Seafood Meal Bags Recalled by Randalls, Tom Thumb, and Albertsons Stores in AK, LA, and TX
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that Randalls, Tom Thumb, and Albertsons stores have recalled several of their “Ready. Chef. Go!” Seafood Meal Bags following Mann Packing’s enormous recall of its vegetable products from stores throughout the United States and Canada. These vegetables, incorporated into the processed seafood meals, were recalled after the Canadian Inspection Agency detected the presence of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria in a single random sample. Listeria is one of the most severe forms of food poisoning, and is particularly dangerous to pregnant women and their unborn infants as it can cause miscarriage, stillbirths, and birth defects such as hydrocephalus. In adults (especially the elderly or people with underlying medical conditions), it … [Read more...]
Meijer Recalls Brand Name Produce by Mann Packing for Possible Listeria Contamination
In conjunction with the extensive recall by Mann Packing of produce from stores across the United States and Canada, Meijer has now announced a recall of many of its branded produce items. This produce, originally processed and distributed by Mann Packing, may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. Meijer thus joins several other grocery retailers who have issued recalls either of branded produce or of food products created in-store from the recalled vegetables. We will continue to update our list of these secondary recalls as they arise. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) reports that the Meijer recall addresses all of its stores in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The vegetable items affected by the recall were sold … [Read more...]
Salad Kits and Stir Fry Mixes Recalled in Alaska for Possible Food Contamination
Triple B Corporation, headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska, has now recalled eight (8) different vegetable products, including salad kits, in connection with the major October 19th recall by Mann Packing of many of its minimally processed vegetable items. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) reports that the broccoli florets, stir fry kits, and other vegetable products being recalled may possibly be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that can cause a serious form of food poisoning. All of the items affected by Triple B Corporation’s recall were prepared using potentially contaminated broccoli provided by Mann Packing of Salinas, California. They were then shipped to retail store delis throughout the state of Alaska. The eight (8) recalled vegetable products … [Read more...]
H-E-B Announces Recall of Store-Produced Single-Serving Soups
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has alerted the public that H-E-B stores in the state of Texas are recalling two single-serving soup products. These soups were made in-house from vegetable ingredients that are part of a massive recall issued on October 19th by Mann Packing, headquartered in Salinas, California. These vegetables may have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, which can cause a very dangerous form of food poisoning. The two single-serving soups affected by the recall are “H-E-B ASIAN NOODLE CUP BEEF” (UPC code 26010400000) and “H-E-B ASIAN NOODLE CUP CHICKEN” (UPC code 26010100000). Because of the food poisoning risk, anyone who has bought one of these soups should either dispose of it properly or return it to its place of purchase for a … [Read more...]
Weekly Food Recall Roundup: August 28, 2016
This week's food recalls include a Listeria recall for fresh-cut vegetables sold at Walmart, Winn Dixie, QuickTrip, Spinx, Freshpoint, Bi-lo, Harris Teeter and Publix; several recalls for undeclared allergens and more. Food Recalls in the U.S. Undeclared Allergens Willis Ocean Inc. of Brooklyn, NY recalled Willis Eagle brand MUT GUNG SWEETENED GINGER for undeclared sulfites. WFSP Foods of Decatur, Ala. recalled Land O’ Frost brand bacon and cheddar smoked sausages because they contain the undeclared allergen, milk. Baptista’s Bakery recalled some of their Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps because they may contain undeclared milk allergens. Candra International recalled Organic Rice Noodles for undeclared wheat. Anyone who is allergic to wheat or who has celiac disease could … [Read more...]
Jeni’s Ice Cream: You Fight Listeria By Constantly Searching For It
Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream has posted on its website a response to an FDA warning letter made public this week. The letter states environmental samples taken near food and food contact surfaces during an inspection in January and February of this year were positive for Listeria. The inspection was part of a follow-up process after a Listeria recall in 2015. Jeni's issued a recall for all of its products and temporarily ceased production in April 2015 after the Nebraska Department of Agriculture found Listeria in ice cream it tested as part of a routine product sampling program. No illnesses were reported in connection with the ice cream. "We received a Warning Letter from the FDA following their January inspection of our facility. We are happy to get to the next stage with the FDA, … [Read more...]
Listeria Recall for Vegetables Sold at Walmart, Winn Dixie, QuickTrip and More
A Listeria recall has been issued for fresh-cut vegetables sold at Walmart, Winn Dixie, QuickTrip, Spinx, Freshpoint, Bi-lo, Harris Teeter and Publix. Consumers who have recently purchased fresh-cut vegetables from these stores should check recall information carefully. At the time of the recall, no illnesses had been reported, however, products covered by the recall should not be consumed as Listeria can cause serious illness or death. Country Fresh of Conroe, Texas, issued the recall of 30,000 cases of various vegetable products after being notified that tests conducted by the Georgia Department of Agriculture as part of a routine sampling program were positive for Listeria. The recalled products were shipped to retailers with stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, … [Read more...]
