Possible listeria in vegetables, ready-to-eat meals prompts U.S. recall, alert

A public health alert for ready-to-eat entrees that may contain possible listeria has been issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, agency officials said Friday night.

Mann Packing Co., of Salinas, Calif., whose parent organization is Del Monte Fresh Produce Co., triggered the recall of a series of its vegetable products, which contain FDA-regulated ingredients.

Some of the products have been sold at Kroger stores, Trader Joe’s and some affected items include the popular nourish bowls.

The FSIS is issuing the alert out of the utmost of caution to ensure that consumers are aware these products should not be consumed, agency officials said in a prepared statement. The following products have been identified as containing products involved in the FDA recall:

  • 12-oz. sealed plastic trays containing "Crazy Fresh Quick & Easy Broccoli Cheddar with Bacon" with sell by dates of 10/13/19 – 11/08/19 represented on the label.
  • 12-oz. sealed plastic trays containing "Kowalski's Quick & Easy Broccoli Cheddar with Bacon" with sell by dates of 10/13/19 – 11/08/19 represented on the label.
  • 12-oz. sealed plastic trays containing "quick & easy Meals Quick & Easy Broccoli Cheddar with Bacon" with sell by dates of 10/13/19 – 11/08/19 represented on the label.
  • 15.8-oz. clear plastic clamshell packages containing "Butter Chicken amazon go Butter Chicken with Turmeric Rice" with best-by dates through Nov. 6 represented on the label.

  • 13.05-oz. plastic clamshell packages containing "BROCCOLI CRUNCH POWER BOWL amazon go BROCCOLI CRUNCH POWER BOWL WITH CHICKEN" with best-by dates through Nov. 6 represented on the label.

The FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ refrigerators. If you have these products, you are urged not to consume them. They should be thrown away or returned to place of purchase.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions from the consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.

Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. 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 can occur 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 with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) or live chat via Ask USDA from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday.

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