Updated June 29, 2016. A May 4 sunflower seed Listeria recall by SunOpta has triggered a cascade of others. Here is a roundup of the Listeria recalls for sunflower seeds or products containing them. There is now a listeriosis outbreak; at least two people are sick. First Source sunflower seed products are associated with this outbreak.
Consumers should check product information carefully as Listeria can cause serious illness and death. Symptoms of an infection, which can take up to 70 days to develop, include high fever, muscle aches, neck stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Among pregnant women, Listeria infections can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery and infection in newborns. Others at heightened risk are young children, seniors and those with compromised immune systems.
Consumers who have purchased these products and eaten them should photograph the packaging, then throw away the product in a sealed package and monitor themselves for symptoms.
After the product has been discarded, was hands well with soap and water. Then clean the area where the product was stored, with a solution of one tablespoon liquid chlorine bleach to one gallon of warm water to kill any remaining bacteria. Listeria can grow at refrigerator temperatures, and freezing does not kill it.
The recalls are listed in order from newest to oldest.
Sunflower Seed Recalls for Listeria Monocytogenes:
NatureBox recalled flavored sunflower kernels for possible Listeria contamination on June 29, 2016, according to the FDA’s Weekly Enforcement Report.
General Mills recalled four flavors of Nature Valley Protein Chewy Bars and Nature Valley Simple Nut Bars for possible Listeria contamination on June 24, 2016.
Figi’s recalled Snack Shoppe Hot & Spicy Cajun Snack Mix and Figi’s Nature’s Mix in two different packages for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination on June 24, 2016.
Atlantic Spice recalls sunflower seeds, tropical mix, and cranberry health mix for possible Listeria contamination June 23, 2016.
Earnest Eats 0f Solana Beach, CA issued a recall for Earnest Eats Dark Chocolate Almond Bars that may be contaminated with Listeria on June 17, 2016.
Honey Bunchies recalled a limited number of gourmet Honey Bars for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination on June 13, 2016.
Creative Snacks recalled sunflower seeds and trail mixes sold under the Fresh Market, Publishers Clearing House, and Plentiful Planet brands for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination on June 13, 2016.
Honey Bunchie recalled their Gourmet Honey Bars for possible Listeria contamination on June 13, 2016.
Bounce USA recalls Apple Cinnamon Protein Punch Energy Balls for possible Listeria contamination on June 10, 2016.
NoGii recalled Nuts About Berries Paleo Bars for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination on June 10, 2016.
Rucker’s Wholesale and Service Company recalled sunflower kernels, Sweet & Salty Mix, and Cajun Hot Mix for possible Listeria contamination on June 8, 2016.
Stuckey’s Sunflower Kernels were recalled on June 8, 2016.
Market District recalled sunflower seeds in four Ohio areas for possible Listeria contamination on June 7, 2016.
Rucker’s Makin’ Batch Candies recalls Dollywood Cajun Mix for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination on June 7, 2016.
Hershey recalls SoFit sunflower seed products and Protein Plus products for possible Listeria contamination on June 6, 2016.
Maranatha brand recalls sunflower seed butter for Listeria contamination on June 4, 2016.
Brown & Haley expanded their recall of Mountain Thins “Trail Mix” flavor for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination on June 3, 2016.
Kashi and Bear Naked expanded their recall of snack bars, granola, and granola bars on June 3, 2016.
Hickory Harvest expands their recall of sunflower kernels on June 3, 2016. Brand names include Hickory Harvest, IM Good, Amish Farms, Raylicious, Liberty, Sheetz, and Superior Brokerage.
Atkins Nutritionals recalls snack bars for possible Listeria contamination on June 3, 2016.
Hy-Vee recalls salad topping and more trail mix products on June 3, 2016.
Post is recalling Great Grains Protein Blend – Honey, Oats & Seeds cereal for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination on June 3, 2016.
First Source expands their recall of sunflower products on June 3, 2016, including the brand names Alpine Valley, Earth Fare, Flave, Gonzo 2 Go, Foodhold USA, SSP Fitness, Stewarts, Tops, and Wegmans.
Clif recalls their energy bars and trail mix bars for possible contamination on June 2, 2016.
Jungle Jim and Windy Acres trail mix and sunflower seeds recalled for possible Listeria contamination on June 2, 2016.
More Quaker Quinoa Granola Bars were recalled on June 2, 2016.
Sun Life Sunflower Spread was recalled on June 2, 2016.
ACH Food Companies recalled Durkee Salad Topping, Food Club Salad Topping, and Hy-Vee Garden Style Salad Toppings on June 2, 2016.
SunOpta, the original supplier of the sunflower kernels, expanded their recall to include more products, including the brand names Sunrich Naturals, Spitz (only available in Canada), Kar’s, Planters, and Navitas Naturals on June 1, 2016.
Publix recalled their Nut, Seed, and Rain mix for possible Listeria on May 31, 2016.
Kashi and Bear Naked recalled granola bars for possible Listeria on May 31, 2016.
Backroad Country products were recalled on May 24, 2016. They expanded the recall on May 31, 2016.
C. J. Dannemiller Co. recalled SunOpta 50 pound bags and 30 pound cases of roasted and salted sunflower kernels; roasted sunflower kernels with no salt on May 24, 2016.
E.S. Foods of Woodbury NY recalled meal break items including Cheese Stick w/ Beef,Cheese Stick, Cheese Sauce, Chips & Dip, Lime Bean Dippers, Cheese Cup, Frosted Flakes w/Cheese Stick, Cinnamon Pop Tarts, PBJ w/Milk, Tuna Salad w/Milk, and BBQ Chicken w/Milk on May 23, 2016.
First Source of Tonawanda, NY recalled sunflower seeds, trail mixes, and nut mixes sold under the brand names Alpine Valley, Wegmans, Flave Fitness, Gonzo, Stewarts, and Tops on May 22, 2016.
Hy-Vee, Inc. of West Des Moines, Iowa, recalled six trail mix products that may be contaminated with Listeria on May 21, 2016.
Salads made by Papa John’s and sold at Albertsons, Safeway, Bashas and Food 4 Less were recalled for Listeria on May 20, 2016.
Dakota Style Foods Inc. of Clark, South Dakota expanded a recall of various flavors of sunflower kernels to include 15,158 cases on May 20, 2016.
Hickory Harvest, Big Y, Amish Farms recalled nut mixes and sunflower kernels on May 19, 2016.
Treehouse expanded it recall of products sold under the brand names Southern Grove, Naturally Select, Amport Foods, Fresh Finds, Gold Emblem, Greenbrier, Family Gourmet, Clover Vally, Hy-Vee, K&G, Smart Sense, American Importing, Nice!, Delish and Nature’s Harvest on May 19, 2016
Quaker Quinoa Granola Bars in two flavors were recalled on May 16, 2016.
Vending Nut Company Roasted and Salted Sunflower was recalled on May 11, 2016.
Publix recalled Cranberry Nut and Seed Mix for possible contamination on May 10, 2016.
Rucker’s Wholesale and Service Co. recalled some code dates of Uncle Bucks Sweet & Salty Trail Mix peg bag on May 9, 2016.
Kroger recalled Kroger Broccoli Raisin Salad for possible Listeria contamination because it contained sunflower seeds on May 9, 2016.
Rucker’s Makin’ Batch Candies recalled some code dates of Dollywood Sweet & Salty Trail Mix on May 9, 2016.
Creative Snacks recalled products containing sunflower seeds on May 5, 2016. The brand names include The Fresh Market, Plentiful Planet, and Publishers Clearing House mixes and seeds.
Schulze and Burch Biscuit Company recalled some of their Millville Protein Chewy Bars for possible Listeria contamination on May 5, 2016.
Publix recalled their Wheatberry Salad on May 5, 2016.
Mountain Thins Trail Mix was recalled by Brown & Haley on May 4, 2016.
Kroger recalled Salad Toppers Sunflower Kernels, Kroger Sunflower Kernels, and Kroger Cranberry Delight Trail Mix on May 4, 2016.
TreeHouse Foods amends their recall to include two more products, Signature Kitchen Sweet & Salty Almond Bars, and Southern Grove Roasted and Salted Sunflower Kernals, and to make corrections on May 4, 2016.
Hickory Harvest recalled sunflower kernels sold under Hickory Harvest, IM Good, Sheetz, Raylilcious, Liberty, Heinens, and Amish Farms on May 4, 2016.
SunOpta announced the recall of their sunflower seeds on May 4, 2016. In particular, Planters Sunflower Kernels and Giant Eagle recalled bulk and pre-packaged sunflower seeds sold at their stores and Market District stores on May 3 and May 4, 2016. The recalls were for stores in northeast Ohio, Pittsburgh, central Ohio, and Carmel Market District.
TreeHouse Foods recalls many products for possible Listeria contamination on May 2, 2016. This was the first indication that there was a problem. Brand names include Publix, Super Value, Our Family, HyVee, Great Value, Meijer, Roundy, Nature’s Harvest, and others.
I bought Kroger Salad Toppers Sunflower Kernels. Had been putting them on my salad a couple of days. Started feeling terrible and hurting all over for several day. Then I saw the recall. Checked and right date code and everything. Looked up the symptoms since I had been feeling so bad and yep…. that was it. Took them back to Kroger and talked to the pharmacist. It was pretty scary to know that I ate something with Listeria.
If you are ill, please see your doctor. He or she can tell you if you have a Listeria infection, which may need treatment.