Growers Express is recalling some Green Giant Fresh, Grower Express, Signature Farms, and Trader Joes fresh vegetable products for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. These products include packaged varieties of butternut squash, cauliflower, zucchini, and a butternut squash based veggie bowl. There are no reports of illness related to this recall to date.
The products originate from a Growers Express production facility in Biddeford, Maine. Most of these products are labeled with a “Best If Used By” dates of June 26 through June 29, 2019. No other Growers Express products are part of this recall. And this recall doesn’t affect or include any Green Giant canned or frozen vegetable products.
The company reported the need for this recall to the USDA and stopped production rights after they were notified of a single positive sample by the Massachusetts Department of Health. The company’s facility is being deep cleaned and sanitized before they resume production.
You can see the chart with the retailer/distributor, label description/brand, item name, packaged weight, and item SKU number at the FDA web site. The retailers that carried these recalled products include Big Y Foods, Bozzutos, C&S, Food Lion, Four Seasons, Native Maine, Procacci, Ruby Robinson (PFG), Shaws, Shop & Stop, and Trader Joe’s. The states where the produce was distributed include Maine, Connecticut, South Carolina, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Massachusetts, Florida, Alabama, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, and others.
Please look at the chart carefully and if you visited those stores in the particular states named, and purchased any of the named products sold in those stores, check to see if you still have them in your home. If you do, discard them in a secure garbage can with a lid, or take the product back to the place of purchase for a refund.
It’s a good idea to then clean out your refrigerator or freezer or pantry with a mild bleach solution. This kills Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, which can grow at refrigerator temps. Freezing doesn’t kill this pathogen.
If you ate any of these products, even if they were cooked, monitor yourself for the symptoms of listeriosis for the next 70 days. Those symptoms include high fever, stiff neck, severe headache, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. Pregnant women need to be especially cautious, because this illness can cause miscarriage and stillbirth. If you do get sick, see your doctor.
