Pita Pal Foods of Houston, Texas, is voluntarily recalling some hummus dip products because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. Listeria was identified at the manufacturing facility (not in the finished product) during an FDA inspection. This recall was updated by the FDA on July 24, 2019 with more information.
Once Listeria is established in a facility, it can be very difficult to eradicate. The pathogen is resistant to many common cleaning products, and it can form a biofilm that protects itself.
You can see the long list of recalled products, that were made between May 15, 2019 and July 11, 2019, along with the brand name, product name, unit size, and UPC number, at the FDA web site. The brands include Bucee’s, Fresh Thyme, Harris Teeter, Hummus Hummus, Lantana, Lidl, Pita Pal, Reasor’s, Roundy’s, Schnucks, and 7-Select. The products were distributed nationwide and to the United Arab Emirates.
The recalled products include Classic Hummus, Roasted Red Pepper Humus, Roasted Garlic Hummus, Hummus Variety Pack, Sesame Pine Nut Hummus, Original Hummus, Cilantro Jalapeño Hummus, Basil Sun-dried Tomato Hummus, Black Bean Hummus, and Olive Hummus, among others. Not all of these products were sold under all of the brand names. The recalled products have a date code of 122 through 192.
Please check that list carefully, making note of the UPC numbers and package sizes. You can see pictures of recalled products, with the date code circled, at the FDA web site.
If you did purchase any of these products, do not eat them. Throw them away in a sealed container, or return them to the store where you bought them for a full refund.
It’s a good idea to clean out your refrigerator or freezer with a mild bleach solution after you discard the products, since Listeria monocytogenes can grow at refrigerator temps and freezing doesn’t kill it. Use a solution of 1 tablespoon liquid chlorine bleach to 1 gallon of warm water.
If you ate any of these Pita Pal recalled products, monitor yourself for the symptoms of listeriosis for the next 70 days; that’s how long it can take for this illness to manifest. Symptoms include high fever, stiff neck, severe headache, nausea, and diarrhea. Pregnant women may only be mildly sick with what seems like the flu, but listeriosis can cause stillbirth and miscarriage. If you do feel sick, see your doctor.
