Sprouters Northwest of Kent, Washington is expanding its recall of products possibly contaminated with Listeria to includes all varieties of sprouts products, wheatgrass and pea shoots. The products under recall now include all varieties of sprouts products including 3-Bean Munchie, Alfalfa, Bean, Broccoli, Brocco Sandwich sprouts, Clover, Deli, Spicy; Wheatgrass and/or Pea Shoots that were distributed through 1/30/2013 in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and British Columbia, Canada through retail stores and food service distribution chains.
The recalled products are sold under the Sprouters Northwest and LifeForce brand names and sold in plastic clamshell containers, plastic cups, 3 oz , 4 oz and 5 oz plastic trays and in plastic 1 lb. 2lb, or 5lb. bags. The “Best By” dates include all up to 2/17/2013.
The problem was identified through surveillance finished products samples collected at retail locations and at the firm by the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
Sprouts are considered a “unique risk” for foodborne illness by the federal government. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children, seniors, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems avoid eating raw sprouts of any kind and that others thoroughly cook sprouts before eating them. To see FoodSafety.gov’s fact sheet on the risks of raw sprouts click here.
