White Castle frozen sandwiches are being recalled for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this recall.
The recalled White Castle frozen sandwiches are all identified as sliders. They include frozen 6 pack cheeseburgers, frozen 6 pack hamburgers, frozen 6 pack jalapeño cheeseburgers, 16 pack hamburgers, and 16 pack cheeseburgers. The products are sold in rectangular cardboard packages. The code date is on a side panel. You can see the long list of recalled product lot codes and best by dates at the FDA web site, along with pictures of all of the product labels.
The recall affects product on shelves at “select retailers,” which weren’t mentioned in the recall notice, with best by dates ranging from 04 Aug 2020 to 17 Aug 2020. Any product that is currently on store shelves with these dates is being removed. Any product with a best by date before or after these specific dates is not included in the voluntary recall.
A recent sample conducted by a third party laboratory showed a presence of Listeria monocytogenes. The company immediately halted shipment of product to consumers. Since the problem was identified White Castle has not shipped any product from this facility to customers.
All affected production runs have been identified for destruction. The company is also conducting intensive sanitation and cleaning, elevating strong food safety testing and manufacturing guidelines, and conducting comprehensive testing to confirm no presence of Listeria bacteria in the facility.
If you purchased these products, do not eat them, even if you are planning to heat them before eating. Throw them away in a secure garbage can, or take them back to the place of purchase for a full refund.
You should then clean out your refrigerator or freezer with a mild bleach solution to kill any remaining bacteria. Listeria monocytogenes can grow at refrigerator temperatures, and freezing doesn’t kill it. Wash your hands well with soap and water after cleaning and after handling these products.
If you ate any of these products, watch for symptoms of listeriosis for the next 70 days. Those symptoms include high fever, stiff neck, severe headache, nausea, and diarrhea. Pregnant women need to be very wary of this pathogen, since the illness can cause stillbirth and miscarriage, even if the woman is only mildly ill. If you do feel sick, see your doctor.
