There are so many Listeria recalls right now it’s hard to keep up. Two potentially contaminated food sources – frozen vegetables and sunflower seeds – have spawned numerous recalls. To help consumers stay up-to-date, Food Poisoning Bulletin has organized the recalls by retailer. Consumers who shop at these stores should check the list of recalls carefully as Listeria can cause serious illness and death.
Frozen vegetables produced by CRF Frozen Foods and sold under a variety of brand names have been linked to a Listeria outbreak that has sickened at least eight people in three states. Two of these people ate Organic by Nature brand frozen vegetables before they became sick. Organic by Nature is one of 42 brands of packaged frozen vegetables produced by CRF that have been recalled. Frozen products containing these vegetables have also been recalled. Separately, a number of Listeria recalls have been issued for sunflower seeds or products containing them.
Symptoms of a Listeria infection can take up to 70 days after exposure to develop. They include stiff neck, headache, muscle soreness and flu-like symptoms that are sometimes preceded by nausea, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
Those most at risk are young children, seniors, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems. Among pregnant women, Listeria can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery and infection in newborns.
Products affected by these recalls sold at Walmart, Aldi, Publix and Schuncks are listed below.
Aldi
Products sold at Aldi containing Southern Grove sunflower kernels recalled for Listeria are: 10.5 oz. bags of Southern Grove Roasted & Salted Sunflower Kernels with UPC Code 041498206680 and “Best by” dates of 2/28/2017, 3/1/2017, 3/2/2017, and 3/4/2017; 10.5 oz. bags of Southern Grove Roasted & Unsalted Sunflower Kernels UPC Code 041498206765 with “Best by” dates of 2/28/2017, 3/1/2017, 3/2/2017, and 3/4/2017; 12 oz. bags of Southern Grove Oven Roasted Almonds with Sea Salt with UPC Code 041498132248 and “Best by” date of 3/4/2017; 12 oz. bags of Southern Grove Oven Roasted Almonds with No Salt with UPC Code 041498114749 and “Best by” date of 3 /4/2017. The recalled products were sold at Aldi stores nationwide.
Products sold at Aldi recalled by Schulze & Burch because they contain sunflower seeds that may be contaminated with Listeria are: all “sell by” and “best by” dates of 7.1 oz. packages of Millville Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Protein Chewy Bars with UPC code 041498195151; and 7.1 oz. packages of Millville Peanut, Almond and Dark Chocolate Protein Chewy Bars with UPC code 041498195601.
Frozen vegetables that are part of the CRF Frozen Foods Listeria recall that were sold at Aldi stores include three types of Season’s Choice frozen vegetables and two types of SimplyNature frozen vegetables.
The recalled Season’s Choice vegetables were sold only at Aldi stores in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio. They are: all “sell by” and “best by” dates of Season’s Choice 16 oz. bag Frozen Sweet Peas with UPC code 041498164294; 12 oz. bags of Steamable Mixed Vegetables with UPC code 041498202842; and 16 oz. bag Frozen Sweet Corn with UPC code 041498164287.
The recalled SimplyNature products were sold at Aldi stores in all states from Feb. 11, 2016, to May 3, 2016. They include all “sell by” and “best by” dates of 16 oz. bags of Organic Mixed Vegetables with UPC code 041498296551; 16 oz. bags Organic Sweet Corn with UPC code 041498296568.
Publix
Two products recalled for Listeria- contaminated sunflower seeds was sold at Publix. It was Publix Sweet and Salty Almond Bars with rpdict code 41415-11205 and Best by Dec 07 16 and Best by Dec 08 16. And Wheatberry Salad sold at all Publix retail locations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
There is also a recall for walnuts contaminated with Listeria by Woodstock Farms. One product sold at Publix was affacted by this recall: 7.05 ounce plastic containers of prepackaged cranberry nut and seed mix with UPC of 41415-34986 and with use by dates August 7, 2016 through August 30, 2016. The product was sold at Publix retail produce departments in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee and North Carolina.
Schnucks
One Hickory Harvest product recalled for sunflower seeds contaminated with Listeria was sold at Schuncks: Hickory Harvest Roasted Salted Sunflower Kernel in 5 oz sizes with UPC: 36232-07704 and Best by dates: 11/25/16, 12/28/16, 12/29/16.
Frozen vegetables or products containing them sold at Schnucks that are affected by Listeria recalls include: Woodstock Organic Mixed Vegetables in 10 oz. sizes with UPC: 4256300160 and Best Used By: date of JAN.11.2018. InnovAsian Chicken Fried Rice in 18 oz. size with UPC: 6-95119-12015. And all dates up to and including Nov 5, 2017 of the following Tai Pei products: Chicken Chow Mein, 14.2 oz., UPC: 70077-80010; Tai Pei Shrimp Fried Rice, 12 oz., UPC: 70077-00106; Tai Pei Pepper Beef, 14.2 oz., UPC: 70077-00116; Tai Pei Chicken Fried Rice, 14.2 oz. and UPC: 7007700107.
Walmart
The following recalls affect frozen foods sold at Walmart that may be conatmianted with Listeria:
20 oz. pail boxes containing AllFresh Foods “ANJOY Chicken Fried Rice with case codes: 092415, 092915, 100215, 101325, 101615, 102015, 102715, 110315, 110615 and 032316.
Pictsweet frozen vegetables.
Ajinomoto Windsor frozen entrees sold under a variety of brand names
I purchased some sunflower seed hearts from Menard’s back in early Feb.,2016. I ate them 4 different times, and each time within 3 or 4 days, I had severe abdominal pain, lower left side and diarrhea. My doctor thought it was kidney or bladder problems, did a CT scan with some kind of dye, but did not show anything. I finally linked it to the consumption of the sunflower hearts. I threw them away. I have not had the problem since. I had never experienced pain like that before.
If you are sick, please ask your doctor to test you for a Listeria infection.