Last updated on June 6th, 2016 at 03:41 pm
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black is alerting citizens to several recent recalls that include a wide range of products that were distributed and sold in the state. The products are being recalled over concerns of Listeria monocytogenes contamination, which poses health risks to consumers if eaten.
“Recalls are one of the food safety control measures in place to prevent illnesses when a potential problem is identified,” Black said. “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.”
While retailers are actively pulling recalled products from store shelves so they are not available for purchase, Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) food safety inspectors routinely check retail shelves and distribution warehouses to make sure recalled products have been removed from sale.
Recent recalls impacting Georgia due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination are listed below. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration website has additional, complete information about each recalled product.
Frozen fruit and vegetable products:
- CRF Frozen Foods—This expanded recall of frozen fruit and 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 Co.—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 December 2016 and January 2017, 10-oz. 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 in 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 foodservice 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 March 14, 2017, and April 18, 2017. The products were distributed nationwide only in Bass Pro Shops stores.
- SunOpta—Sunflower kernel products sold in clear plastic packages under the brand names 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.
Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune symptoms. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Lm infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
