The USDA’s FSIS has issued a public health alert about Trader Joe’s Broccoli and Slaw & Kale Salad with White Chicken Meat because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. A recall wasn’t issued because the products are past their “use by” dates. Still, anyone who ate this product needs to watch for the symptoms of listeriosis for 70 days starting from when they consumed it.
The ready-to-eat broccoli slaw salads were made from October 3 to October 6, 2017. The product is sold in a 9.3 ounce container with use by dates of 10/10/2017, 10/11/2017, 10/12/2017 and 10/13/2017 and lot codes of: 70327610, 70427710, 70527810, and 70627910, respectively.
The product has the establishment number “EST. P-17156” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah.
The firm was notified on October 20, 2017 that the broccoli products used in those broccoli slaw salads were recalled for possible Listeria contamination. There have been no confirmed reports of illness to date.
The symptoms of listeriosis include high fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. If the infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract a person can become seriously ill and even die.
Pregnant women are especially at risk for this pathogenic bacteria. Listeriosis can cause miscarriage, premature labor, stillbirth, and a serious or even fatal infection in the newborn baby. But these women may only feel mildly sick, with symptoms similar to the flu. If you do feel sick, see your doctor and tell him that you ate this recalled product.
If you bought this product and still have it, throw it away in a sealed container. If it was in your fridge but is now gone, clean out your fridge with a solution of 1 tablespoon liquid chlorine bleach to 1 gallon of warm water. This bacteria can grow at refrigerator temperatures, and freezing doesn’t kill it.
