Additional Recalls of Foods for Listeria

By Kay Whatley, Editor
In addition to recent recalls of frozen foods and sunflower seeds, additional recalls were issued noting a Listeria risk: green beans, biscuits, chicken salad, tamales, and vegetables.

Recalls below were issued in early May 2016.

Stahlbush Island Farms, Inc. Recalls IQF Green Beans Because Of Possible Health Risk

Released by Debbie Cozzetto, stahlbush.com

Stahlbush Island Farms, Inc. (SIFI) of Corvallis, Ore., is voluntarily recalling 10 oz. Stahlbush® IQF Green Bean retail packages because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.  Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The product was distributed throughout the United Stated and Canada.

The green beans were packaged for Stahlbush Island Farms, Inc. by a co-packer into 10 oz. Stahlbush® IQF Green Bean paper retail packages.  Product is frozen and has the UPC code 6 38882 00053 7.

The lot numbers are found on the back of the package and the affected lot numbers and best by dates are:

• #16034001, with a “best buy” code date of 02/03/18.
• #15097001, with a “best buy” code date of 04/07/17.
• #14328001, with a “best buy” code date of 11/24/14.
• #15362001, with a “best buy” code date of 12/28/17.
• #14310002, with a “best buy” code date of 11/06/16.

No other Stahlbush® products are affected by this recall.  No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with affected Stahlbush® products.

The recall was initiated after SIFI was notified by the supplier of the green beans that the supplier had issued a recall of the green beans.

Consumers who have purchased IQF green beans affected by the recall should not consume the product and are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at customerservice@stahlbush.com or call
(541) 541-1497, open 9 am through 5 pm PDT, Monday through Friday.

Stahlbush Island Farms, Inc. apologizes for any inconvenience experienced by our valued consumers and retail customers.

“We take the safety of our products very seriously,” states William Chambers, President and CEO of SIFI. “Immediately after being notified by our supplier that their green beans had been recalled by them, we took action to identify the products implicated in the recall and we discontinued shipment of all affected product. We are working quickly with distributors and retailers to remove the product from shelves and eliminate risk to consumers.”

Schulze and Burch Biscuit Co. Recalls Various Millville Protein Chewy Bars Products Because of Possible Health Risk

Schulze and Burch Biscuit Co., of Chicago, ILL  is voluntarily recalling a variety of Millville Protein Chewy Bars products because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The Millville Protein Chewy Bars products were nationally distributed through Aldi stores and the company is recalling the following products. Consumers can find UPC codes and Best By/Date Codes on each package.

Schulze and Burch Biscuit Co. became aware of the potential contamination when informed by our supplier that the sunflower seeds may be contaminated withListeria monocytogenes . We are working closely with FDA to continue to investigate the problem further.

Consumers who have purchased any of the above products are urged to dispose of or return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with any questions may call the Consumer Contact at 888.886.3879.

Consumer Care Team is available Monday – Friday, 8am-4:30pm (PST).

Ghiringhelli Specialty Foods Firm Recalls Trader Joe’s Broccoli Slaw & Kale Salad With White Meat Chicken Products

Class I Recall — This is a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.

Released by Jeremy J. Emmert, fsis.usda.gov

Ghiringhelli Specialty Foods, a Vallejo, Calif., establishment, is recalling approximately 33,610 pounds of Broccoli Slaw & Kale Salad with White Chicken Meat product that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The Trader Joe’s Broccoli Slaw & Kale Salad with White Chicken Meat product that is affected by this recall was produced April 26 through May 1, 2016, and has “USE BY” labels on the plastic packaging containing dates 05/02 through 05/07. The following products are subject to recall:

• 9.3-OZ. clear plastic container packages with the label “Trader Joe’s Broccoli Slaw & Kale Salad with White Chicken Meat; Sunflower Seeds, Cranberries and a sweet & Spicy Vinaigrette.”

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “P-17156” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to Trader Joe’s distributors in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah.

The problem was discovered on May 3, 2016, when the company’s vendor of sunflower seeds notified the company that the product might have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. According to the recalling firm, all affected product has been removed from the market channels. FSIS will verify removal through recall effectiveness checks.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

FSIS advises all consumers to reheat ready-to-eat product until steaming hot.

Media and consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Mike Ghiringhelli, Jr., General Manager, at 707.561.7670 x.105.

Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem.

La Autentica Foods, LLC Firm Recalls Meat Tamale Products Due To Possible Listeria Contamination

Class I Recall — This is a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.

Released by Nina Anand, fsis.usda.gov

La Autentica Foods, LLC., a Hialeah, Florida establishment, is recalling approximately 117,350 pounds of meat tamale products that may be adulterated with Listeria Monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced May 7, 2016.

The heat-treated, not fully cooked, not shelf stable tamale in corn husk items were produced from September 4, 2015 to April 26, 2016. The following products are subject to recall:

• 20-oz. PLASTIC BAG packages containing four pieces of “TAMAL EN HOJA TAMAL IN CORN HUSK.”
• 30-oz. PLASTIC BAG packages containing six pieces of “TAMAL CUBANO EN SU HOJA CUBAN TAMALE WRAPPED IN CORN HUSK WITH DICED PORK.”
• 20-oz. PLASTIC BAG packages containing four pieces of “TAMALES CUBANOS ESTILO CASERO CUBAN STYLE TAMELES WITH PORK.”
• 15.5-lb. BOX packages containing fifty pieces of “TAMALES WRAPPED IN CORN HUSK.”
• 15.5-lb. BOX packages containing forty pieces of “TAMALES ESPECIAL WRAPPED IN CORN HUSK.”

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 11154” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to a retail and restaurant locations in Florida.

The problem was discovered during an FDA recall of frozen corn contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers’ freezers.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

FSIS advises all consumers to reheat ready-to-eat product until steaming hot.

Media and consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Mr. Fabrice Riviere, President, at 786.409.3779.

Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 am to 4 pm (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at: www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem.

Harris Teeter Voluntarily Recalls Harris Teeter Frozen Organic Corn and Harris Teeter Frozen Mixed Vegetables

Released by Danna Robinson and Lea Ramsey, harristeeter.com

Out of an abundance of caution, Harris Teeter is voluntarily recalling Harris Teeter Frozen Organic Corn and Harris Teeter Frozen Mixed Vegetables due to the potential for these products to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Harris Teeter was notified by Seabrook Brothers, the manufacturer of these products, may have used vegetables that are part of the recent CRF Frozen Foods recall.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The recall applies to:
Harris Teeter Frozen Organic Corn
UPC number 7203676395

Harris Teeter Frozen Organic Mixed Vegetables
UPC number 7203676393.

Harris Teeter stocks Harris Teeter Frozen Organic Corn and Harris Teeter Frozen Mixed Vegetables. However, they do not currently stock the UPC’s listed above.

These products may have been sold in Harris Teeter stores between October 19, 2015 and December 24, 2015. Harris Teeter asks customers who purchased the products containing the UPC’s mentioned between October 19, 2015 and December 24, 2015 to please not consume the products. Instead, please return the products to Harris Teeter for a full refund.

Product quality and integrity are paramount to Harris Teeter. If you purchased the recalled product, please return it to any Harris Teeter store for a full refund. Customers with questions should call CRF Frozen Foods at the CRF Recall Call Center at 844.551.5595.

Harris Teeter, with headquarters in Matthews NC, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Kroger Co. The regional grocery chain employs approximately 28,000 associates and operates stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, Delaware, Florida and the District of Columbia. harristeeter.com