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The Georgia Department of Agriculture announced today that certain brands of frozen fruit and vegetables, sunflower seeds, and nuts might be contaminated with listeria, the same foodborne bacterium that shut down production for Blue Bell Ice Cream and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams last year.
“Recalls are one of the food safety control measures in place to prevent illnesses when a potential problem is identified,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black in a released statement. “Many of these recalls are tied together by common ingredients. The multitude of related recalls is a testament to the supply chain working together to identify products that need to be removed from the marketplace.”
Retailers are actively pulling products from store shelves, and consumers should cross-check any recent purchases with the full list below. Improper refrigeration and storage, cross contamination, and unsanitary workspaces are often the source of an outbreak. Eating contaminated food can cause an infection called listeriosis, which can be very serious for pregnant women, newborns, adults 65 and older, and those with a weakened immune system. Symptoms include fever, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, and back pain, and can lead to life-threatening complications like bacterial meningitis, or miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth among pregnant women.
Frozen fruit and vegetable products
CRF Frozen Foods
This expanded recall of frozen fruits & vegetables includes all organic and non-organic products with a best by date or sell by date between April 26, 2016 and April 26, 2018. The recall includes approximately 358 products sold under 42 separate brands, such as broccoli, butternut squash, carrots, cauliflower, corn, edamame, green beans, Italian beans, kale, leeks, lima beans, onions, peas, pepper strips, potatoes, potato medley, root medley, spinach, sweet potatoes, various vegetable medleys, blends, and stir fry packages, blueberries, cherries, cranberries, peaches, raspberries, and strawberries. The products were distributed nationwide.
The Pictsweet Company
Certain frozen vegetable products sold nationwide because they contain Cut Green Beans or Green Peas recently recalled by CRF Frozen Foods, a Pictsweet ingredient supplier. Recalled products include specific “best by” dates, with the letter “K” as the 5th digit of the manufacturing code (found on the back panel of each package).
The Kroger Co.
Simple Truth Organic Mixed Vegetables that may be impacted by contaminated vegetable ingredient(s). Includes sell by dates of Dec. 2016 and Jan. 2017, 10 oz. sized package, UPC 0001111036738.
ConAgra
Watts Brothers Farms Organic packages of vegetables sold at Costco (including Mixed Vegetables, Super Sweet Corn, and Peas) and Trader Joe’s Organic Super Sweet Corn.
Stahlbush Island Farms, Inc.
Stahlbush® IQF Green Bean in 10 oz. retail packages (UPC code 6 38882 00053 7), sold across the U.S. and Canada.
Pita Pal Foods
Pita Pal Corn Relish Salad, Texas Caviar Salad, Mediterranean 3 Bean Salad and Chipotle Quinoa Salad that may be impacted by contaminated vegetable ingredient(s). The products were sold in Georgia and other select states through retail and food service distribution.
Sunflower seeds and nuts
Rucker’s Wholesale and Service Co.
Uncle Bucks Sweet & Salty Trail Mix in 3 oz. clear bags with UPC 752545073390 and best by dates of 03-14-17 & 04-18-17. The products were distributed nationwide only in Bass Pro Shops stores.
SunOpta
Sunflower kernel products sold in clear plastic packages under “Dakota’s Best Biggy’s Roasted and Salted Kernels” (16 oz.) and Planters Sunflower Kernels (3 oz.), with best by dates of March 2017 that may have been distributed nationwide.
Creative Snacks Co.
Bulk and packaged sunflower seed products sold nationwide.
Publix Super Markets Inc.
Wheatberry Salad that may be impacted by contaminated sunflower seeds, sold in plastic containers available in the Publix Delis, sold in Georgia and other southeastern states.
Brown & Haley
Mountain Thins “Trail Mix” flavor that may be impacted by contaminated sunflower seeds, sold at select retail stores nationwide.
The Kroger Co.
Kroger Sunflower Salad Toppers, Sunflower Kernels, and Cranberry Delight Trail Mix that may be impacted by contaminated sunflower seeds, sold in Georgia and other select states.
The Kroger Co.
Broccoli Raisin Salad that may be impacted by contaminated sunflower seeds, sold in Georgia and other select states. Includes all container sizes and all use by dates for products with UPC 0028715820000.
TreeHouse Foods, Inc.
Sunflower kernels and almond products sold in retail stores nationwide.
Schulze and Burch Biscuit Co.
Millville Protein Chewy Bars products, sold nationwide in Aldi stores.
