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Tag: listeria

  • Fruit Recall Expands Due To Listeria Risk

    Several weeks ago a Listeria scare caused a fruit recall.

    The Wawona Packing Co. in Cutler, California claimed that they found traces of Listeria on some of the machinery used to package certain fruits.

    The company assured customers that there had not been any Listeria found in the fruit or any reported illnesses, and said that the voluntary recall was issued for customer safety.

    The company expanded the recall this week and said that nectarines, peaches, plums or pluots purchased from the company under the “Sweet2Eat” brand name, may contain traces of Listeria.

    The first recall was issued for fruit packaged between June 1 and July 12. The new recall was expanded to include fruit packaged through July 17.

    The company said the expanded recall was issued because they were “yet to identify with scientific certainty the source” of the Listeria monocytogenes at the packaging facility.

    The company said that tests were conducted at the facility and that the testers found the bacteria on a peach and two nectarines. They are not sure how many, if any other fruits could also contain the virus.

    The company said that the recall is worldwide and that they are not sure which stores sell their produce or which restaurants serve it.

    Websites for Trader Joe’s, Kroger, Costco, Whole Foods Market, Ralphs, Food 4 Less and Wal-Mart, which also operates Sam’s Club, have all issued recalls on the fruit.

    The company advised customers to check their refrigerators for fruit with stickers that read, “Sweet2Eat.” The fruit may also be labeled “Mrs. Smittcamp’s” or “Sweet2Eat Organic.” Consumers can throw out the potentially contaminated fruit or take it back to the store for a refund.

    There have still been no reports of illness caused from contaminated fruit or a Listeria outbreak linked to the company.

    Are you nervous about eating fruit after learning of the Listeria scare?

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Trader Joe’s Recalls Fruit In Fear Of Listeria

    Trader Joe’s has recalled several types of fruit produced by the Wawona Packing Company. Wawona recently found traces of Listeria in its production equipment and has asked several stores to remove their products from the shelves.

    The recall applies to “certain lots of whole peaches (white and yellow), nectarines (white and yellow), plums and pluots packed between June 1, 2014 through July 12, 2014,” according to a recall bulletin from the Food and Drug Administration.

    The FDA said that each fruit should have a sticker that shows the brand name. Any fruit with stickers that read “Sweet2Eat” should not be sold or consumed.

    Listeria can cause serious illness and even death in young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.

    In 2011 a Listeria outbreak caused over 100 people to become ill and caused the deaths of 30. The outbreak spread to 28 states and was traced back to contaminated cantaloupes.

    So far there have been no reports of Listeria or any other illness related to the fruit, but the company wanted to make sure nobody became ill and decided to recall the products.

    “We are aware of no illnesses related to the consumption of these products” company President Brent Smittcamp said in a news release.

    “By taking the precautionary step of recalling product, we will minimize even the slightest risk to public health, and that is our priority.”

    Other stores including Wal-Mart and Kroger have also been affected by the recall.

    The FDA and Wawona say that anyone who has purchased these fruits should throw them away immediately.

    The FDA also suggests contacting the Wawona company if you are concerned about the recall.

    “Consumers with questions may contact Wawona Packing at 1-888-232-9912, M-F, 8am-5pm ET, or visit www.wawonapacking.com,” they said.

    How do you think stores and food companies can prevent listeria contaminations and future recalls?

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Trader Joe’s Recall Also Affects Other Stores

    The Trader Joe’s recall that has fresh produce going to waste all over the nation is not actually just affecting Trader Joe’s.

    The alert is also for Costco, Kroger, and Wal-Mart stores, including Sam’s, among others. According to the recall statement,

    “Wawona Packing Company of Cutler, Calif is voluntarily recalling certain lots of whole peaches (white and yellow), nectarines (white and yellow), plums and pluots packed between June 1, 2014 through July 12,2014 due to the potential of the products being contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.”

    It continued in explanation, “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.”

    1,600 illnesses and 260 deaths are caused by Listeria each year in the United States. Outbreaks have been slowing down since 2001, but 2011 saw the largest outbreak in US history from contaminated cantalopes grown at a Colorado Farm. That outbreak caused 127 illnesses and killed nearly three dozen.

    “Fruit sold as individual pieces should have a sticker on it; the recalled product stickers will read ‘Sweet2Eat.” Wawona stated.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_CgRlmD5oQ

    No illnesses have been reported yet, and the recall is simply a fast reaction to an alert of possible contamination from an Australian customer. After the alert, equipment was tested and listeria was detected.

    “We are aware of no illnesses related to the consumption of these products,” said Wawona President Brent Smittcamp. “By taking the precautionary step of recalling product, we will minimize even the slightest risk to public health, and that is our priority.”

    Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. has also recalled several of its baked goods that contain fruit from the Wawona Fruit Company.

    For a complete list of what to avoid, read the recall statement here.

    Image via YouTube

  • Fruit Sold at Costco and Trader Joe’s Recalled

    Wawona Packing Company, based in the Central Valley of California, has voluntarily recalled white and yellow peaches, white and yellow nectarines and various plum varieties.

    The whole fruits were packed between June 1 and July 12, and distributed to Trader Joe’s and Costco stores.

    The Food and Drug Administration issued a statement on the matter:

    “FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 19, 2014 – Wawona Packing Company of Cutler, Calif is voluntarily recalling certain lots of whole peaches (white and yellow), nectarines (white and yellow), plums and pluots packed between June 1, 2014 through July 12,2014 due to the potential of the products being contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Wawona Packing has notified retailers of the specific lots being recalled. No other products are impacted by this recall. No illnesses have been linked to this recall to date.”

    Listeria monocytogenes is the bacterium that causes the infection listeriosis, an illness which causes death in 20% to 30% of cases. Listeria is most dangerous to pregnant women, children and the elderly. If an infection progresses to listeric meningitis, mortality rate may reach 70%.

    Here is a small scientific piece on listeria:

    No listeriosis infections have been reported, and Brent Smittcamp, President of Wawona Packing Co., commented, “We are aware of no illnesses related to the consumption of these products. By taking the precautionary step of recalling product, we will minimize even the slightest risk to public health, and that is our priority.”

    Costco, the members-only warehouse club based in Issaquah, Washington, has been having some food issues, as of late. Back in March, the company dumped $2.8 million worth of perfectly good peanut butter into a New Mexico landfill due to a previous salmonella scare. The makers of the peanut butter, Sunland Inc., had asked Costco to at least donate the peanut butter to food banks, but the big box retailer declined.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Hummus Recall Issued For Possible Listeria Contamination

    Prepared food manufacturer Lansal, Inc. announced on May 19 that it is voluntarily recalling 14,860 pounds of hummus and dip products due to a concern about the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, the elderly, and others with weakened immune systems, according to a Food and Drug Administration press release.

    The companies affected by the recall include Target, Trader Joe’s, Giant Eagle, and Tryst. For Target, the affected area includes the whole United States. Trader Joe’s, Giant Eagle, and Tryst affected locations are limited specific regions of the country. To see if your state if affected, refer to the original press release here.

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, listeriosis, the name for the infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes, affects primarily “older adults, pregnant women, newborns, and adults with weakened immune systems.” The symptoms include fever, muscle aches, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. Listeriosis is an “invasive” infection, where the bacteria spread beyond the gastrointestinal tract.

    Other symptoms can include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions, in addition to fever and muscle aches. It presents in different ways, the two most common being septicemia and meningitis.

    The potential for infection within the hummus and dip products occurred during a routine test of Target Archer Farms Traditional Hummus (10 ounce) by the Texas Department of Health. No illness has been thus far reported.

    In a separate FDA press release that involves listeriosis, St. Louis-based Sherman Produce is voluntarily recalling 241 cases of bulk walnuts packaged in 25-pound bulk cardboard boxes and Schnucks brand 10 ounce trays, because the products are potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

    These products were sold to retailers in Missouri and Illinois from March through May 2014. Consumers, according to the release, are advised not to consume the walnuts and to either dispose of them or return them to the retailer for a full refund. No illnesses have been reported to date.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Hummus Recalled Due To Listeria Contamination

    Hummus Recalled Due To Listeria Contamination

    Food manufacturer Lansal has made the decision to voluntary recall over seven tons of hummus due to the fear of listeria contamination.

    The recall was announced on Thursday and directly impacts Target and Trader Joe’s stores. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), nearly 15,000 pounds of hummus and dip products were removed from the stores as a precautionary action.

    The possibility of contamination was discovered during a routine test of Target Archer Farms Traditional Hummus by the Texas Department of Health. Lansal immediately contacted all of their retailers and distributors. So far, no illnesses have been reported.

    Below is a list from the FDA of all of the products that were affected by the recall:

    Item: Target Archer Farms Traditional Hummus 10oz. UPC: 85239233405 Use By Date: JUN/11/2014 Affected Areas: National

    Item: Target Archer Farms Traditional Hummus 2lb. (Non-retail item; Ingredient item used in SuperTarget store production of 2 items, Archer Farms Mediterranean Veggie Hummus Wrap and Archer Farms Hummus Veggie Snacker) UPC: 8968630 01823 Use By Date: JUN/11/2014 Affected Areas: National

    Item: Target Archer Farms Roasted Garlic with Roasted Garlic Tapenade 17 oz. UPC: 85239233498 Use By Date: JUN/9/14 & JUN/12/14 Affected Areas: National

    Item: Target Archer Farms Roasted Red Pepper with Roasted Red Pepper Topping 17 oz. UPC: 85239233481 Use By Date: JUN/12/2014 Affected Area: National

    Item: Giant Eagle Chipotle Hummus 8oz. UPC: 30034065881 Use By Date: MAY/7/2014 & MAY/14/14 Affected Areas: Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Maryland.

    Item: Giant Eagle Garlic Hummus 8oz. UPC: 30034064747 Use By Date: MAY/7/2014 & MAY/14/14 Affected Areas: Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Maryland.

    Item: Trader Joe’s Edamame Hummus 8oz. UPC: 988582 Use By Date: APR/28/14 & APR/29/14 & MAY/9/24 Affected Areas: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, North Carolina, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia (Southern), Washington

    Item: Trader Joe’s 5 Layered Dip Small 11.5oz. UPC: 435451 Use By Date: APR/15/2014 Affected Areas: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio & Wisconsin

    Item: Trader Joe’s 5 Layered Dip Large 24oz. UPC: 274043 Use By Date: APR/15/2014 Affected Areas: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio & Wisconsin

    Item: Tryst Yellow Lentil Hummus with Sunflower Seeds & Apricots 10oz UPC: 8968630 01410 Use By Date: USE BY JUN/10/14 E Time stamp & USE BY JUN/12/14 E Time Stamp Affected Areas: Midwest & Pacific Northwest regions of United States

    Customers with questions about the recall have been asked to call 877-550-0694, and have been urged to return the product to the store for a full refund.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • The Major Foodborne Illnesses Circling The U.S.

    Foodborne illness is becoming more common and more dangerous in the U.S. and in the rest of the world. The mass food production required to feed the more than 7 billion people on the planet cannot be monitored closely enough to warrant safe food processing.

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that approximately 48 million people in the U.S. alone are infected each year with various foodborne illnesses. That number does not account for those cases unreported, and many people attributing their sickness to the flu.

    The numbers of pathogens and allergens, bacteria and viruses are so vast, the CDC has grouped them into: Known Foodborne Pathogens, and Unspecified Agents.

    The CDC describes the known pathogens that are most prevalent in the U.S. and are causing the biggest problems in human health, below:

    Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that spreads just by touching a surface an infected person touched. It attacks the intestinal system causing stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.

    Salmonella is a bacterial infection that causes diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness can last 4 to 7 days and can be severe enough to cause hospitalization.

    Clostridium perfringens is a bacteria that is commonly found on raw meat and poultry. It can cause a toxin in the intestine causing illness and is the most common cause of foodborne illness in the United States.

    Staphylococcal – although this is a common bacteria found in healthy people, once it has been transmitted to food, it can create toxins and create food poisoning.

    Toxoplasmosisis considered to be a leading cause of death attributed to foodborne illness in the United States.

    E.coli is a large group of bacteria, some harmless, others can make you very sick. Symptoms such as diarrhea, urinary tract infection, respiratory illness and pneumonia can be attributed to E.coli.

    Listeria is a serious infection caused by eating food tainted with the bacterium. It is a serious health problem in the U.S. causing fever, muscle aches, gastrointestinal problems, and diarrhea.

    The CDC advises food preparers to be extremely careful with uncooked food, to be sure to clean and separate it from other foods. Refrigerate foods not being used and after food is cooked – and wash hands, surfaces and all utensils after use when preparing raw meat.

    Image via YouTube

  • Listeria: Farmers Get Probation for Deadly Outbreak

    The deadly listeria outbreak in 2011 was caused by cantaloupes that were contained in a Colorado packing house with a dirty floor and dirty processing equipment. The foodborne illness killed 33 people and sickened 147 others. It was the deadliest food outbreak in almost 100 years. Today, brothers Eric and Ryan Jensen, the cantaloupe farmers that were responsible for the country-wide devastation got a big break.

    They could have each been sentenced to six years in prison. However, Judge Michael E. Hegarty decided that the farmers would be better off as free men working toward paying the $150,000 each in restitution and supporting their own families. Both men will serve five years probation, six months house detention and 100 hours of community service.

    The Jensens did not know that they were shipping deadly fruit. In fact, their farm had received a superior rating by auditors just one month before the deadly outbreak occurred. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Pena called the devastation an “American tragedy” and lauded the Jensens for their full cooperation with the law.

    Traditionally, the government does not prosecute farmers for the unintentional spread of foodborne illness. However, in this particular case, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration wanted to send out a warning to anyone responsible for the production and handling of food.

    Both brothers apologized in court to the family and friends of the victims, some of whom attended the sentencing. Ryan Jensen said, “My most sincere apologies and deepest regrets.” He added, “I do know that much has been gained in food safety understanding both here and outside the country because of this.” Eric Jensen also apologized, “This has been a huge tragedy. We are very, very, sorry. We hope it leads to better understanding of food safety.”

    Listeria is a bacteria that can be found in animals, soil, raw milk and water. The germs cause the infection referred to as listeriosis. Pregnant women, newborns and the elderly have the most difficulty fighting the disease. The best way to prevent listeria is through proper food sanitation and food handling.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Listeria Arrests: Farmers Charged After Outbreak

    There was a recent outbreak of Listeria in a Colorado town, resulting in the arrests of two farmers. The arrests happened on Thursday and are involved in what is being considered the deadliest outbreak of food-borne illness in our country in at least 75 years. The charges are being brought against two farmers of cantaloupe, who unknowingly grew and shipped their cantaloupe without realizing that it was contaminated.

    The charges being brought on the two farmers are connected to a 2011 listeria epidemic that resulted in the deaths of 33 people and the hospitalization of 147 more. Farmer practices can be very harmful depending on what is done to the product and it is important that people are held accountable for what they do. The owners of the cantaloupe farm, Eric and Ryan Jensen, were arrested on misdemeanor charges for introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce, according to The New York Times. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has said that people living in 28 states have consumed the contaminated cantaloupe, making it more of a widespread problem than just in Colorado.

    The prosecutors in the case reported that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration had concluded that there had not been a proper cleaning of the fruit before shipping it out to the public. The Jensen brothers operated their farm in southeastern Colorado, but the farm was forced to file for bankruptcy after the outbreak. These charges are unprecedented, but some people feel that the government needs to hold them accountable for the outbreak, in order to prevent it from happening again, states FOX Denver.

    Documents from the court claim that they used a cleaning tool that was intended for potatoes, and never used a chlorine spray on their cantaloupe. Eric and Ryan Jensen are out on $100,000 bond. Each of them face up to six years in prison and $1.5 million in fines, if they are convicted on each of the six misdemeanors. Their trial begins in December. The families of the ones who died are fighting in this case and while it is too late to bring in their family members back, they hope that this will be a wake-up call for food manufacturers and force them to pay more attention to food-borne illnesses in the future.

    Image via Youtube

  • Listeria Outbreak: Farmers Arrested for Role

    In 2011, the United States saw one of its worst food-borne sicknesses in its history: 33 people were killed and 147 more faced serious illness. Yesterday, the two men responsible for the outbreak, Eric and Ryan Jensen, were arrested and charged for a misdemeanor account of introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce.

    The charge is a rare one. The U.S. Attorney’s office usually does not press charges against farmers for food-borne illnesses, mainly due to issues of origin and culpability. However, this case is different due to the ease in which the FDA was able to track down the origins of the outbreak, and due to the large number of people affected by the sickness.

    There are six charges brought against each other the brothers, and each charge carries a year in prison and a $250,000 fine, totaling 6 years in prison and $1.5 million in fines, if the brothers are charged.

    Eric and Ryan Jensen’s lawyer issued a statement in which he expressed his clients’ innocence: “The charges against Eric and Ryan Jensen do not imply that they knew, or even should have known, that the cantaloupes had been contaminated. As they were from the first day of this tragedy, the Jensens remain shocked, saddened, and in prayerful remembrance of the victims and their families.”

    William Marler, the lawyer who represents the majority of the families affected by the outbreak, stated that intent does not matter in regards to the charges, however: “The real significance of the case against the Jensens is they are being charged with misdemeanors, which do not require intent, just the fact that they shipped contaminated food using interstate commerce.”

    A news release from the US Department of Justice outlines exactly how they believe the brothers were responsible for aiding the outbreak of listeria. Typically, fruit such as cantaloupes are supposed to be taken from the field, cleaned with an antibacterial solution, and stored properly in a cool area. The brothers had been following this process routinely until 2011, when they decided to but new equipment to help the process.

    The equipment they bought, however, was not made to handle cantaloupes. In fact, it was a conveyor cleaner meant for potatoes. Not only that, the equipment was previously used and not properly cleaned. “As this case so tragically reminds us, food processors play a critical role in ensuring that our food is safe. They bear a special responsibility to ensure that the food they produce and sell is not dangerous to the public. Where they fail to live up to that responsibility, and as these charges demonstrate, this office and the Food and Drug Administration have a responsibility to act forcefully to enforce the law,” stated John Walsh, US Attorney for the District of Colorado.

    Other potential sources of contamination of the cantaloupes include unsanitary warehouse conditions, such as standing pools of water on the floor, improper cooling techniques once the cantaloupes had been picked, and a delivery truck that transported cantaloupes to a cattle operation nearby.

    Listeriosis is a sickness caused by the listeria bacteria and primarily affects older adults, pregnant women, children, and adults with compromised immune systems. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. One of the reasons listeriosis can be so serious is that symptoms may not show themselves for quite some time if the bacteria is consumed by a healthy adult.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Dole Recall: Bagged Salad May Make You Sick

    Dole Fresh Vegetables, makers of bagged salads and pre-chopped vegetables, has recalled over 1,000 cases of their salad, citing a possible contamination of listeria. The recall comes after the bacteria was found in a case in North Carolina.

    Dole’s official statement:

    This precautionary recall notification is being issued due to an isolated instance in which a sample of Marketside Leafy Romaine salad yielded a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes in a random sample test conducted by the State of North Carolina.

    Listeria is a serious type of food poisoning which causes stomach issues, fever, and muscle aches and pains and is especially dangerous to pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems. So far the recall is simply precautionary, as there have been no reports of illness yet, but the company says the products could have been purchased and taken home before merchants pulled them off the shelves. The affected states include Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and South Carolina and so far the only stores known to carry the affected products are Kroger and Wal-Mart.

    The products include Kroger Fresh Selections Greener Supreme, Kroger Fresh Selections Leafy Romaine, and Wal-Mart Marketside Leafy Romaine.