CRF Frozen Foods is expanding is recall of all of its frozen vegetable and fruit products for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. There is an outbreak of listeriosis linked to some of these recalled products that has sickened at least eight people in three states.
The recall now includes all of the frozen organic and traditional fruit and vegetable products manufactured or processed in CRF Frozen Foods’ Pasco, Washington facility since May 1, 2014. All affected products have the best by dates or sell by dates between April 26, 2016 and April 26, 2018. You can see the huge list of products recalled at the FDA web site. Operations have been suspended at that facility since April 25, 2016.
Recalled products include organic and non-organic broccoli, butternut squash, carrots, cauliflower, corn, edamame, green beans, Italian beans, kale, leeks, lima beans, onions, peas, pepper strips, potatoes, potato medley, root medley, spinach, sweet potatoes, various vegetable medleys, blends, and stir fry packages, blueberries, cherries, cranberries, peaches, raspberries, and strawberries.
The brand names of the recalled products are Bybee, Columbia River Organics, Northwest Growers Select, Organic by Nature, C.H. Belt’s, Chef Maxwell, Correct Choice, Earth’s Pride, Endico, Farmer’s Bounty, Fiesta Mart, The Inn, Live Smart, Parade, O Organic, Panda Express, Pantry Essentials, Safeway Kitchens, Signature Kitchens, Trader Joe’s, USDA, VIP, Wellsley Farms, JFDA, McCain, Mity Fresh, Mountain Mist, Overhill Farms, Veggie Maria, Life Foods, Emerald Farms, Endico, Great Value, James Farm, Kirkland Signature, Price First, Quirch, Season’s Choice, Simply Nature, True Goodness, Wild Oats, and Export. You can see UPC numbers, codes, and best by dates of the recalled foods at the FDA site. Look through that list carefully. If you have any of these products in your freezer, throw them away.
Clean out your freezer with a mild bleach solution to kill any remaining bacteria. Then wash your hands with soap and water after handling any of these products.
If you ate any of these recalled products, watch yourself for the symptoms of listeriosis, the illness caused by this bacteria, for the next 70 days. Those symptoms are similar to the flu, with headache, neck stiffness, muscle aches, fever, nausea, and diarrhea. If you do get sick, see your doctor and tell her you ate these recalled products.
