October is here and with it new reports of food recalls. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently overseeing multiple food recalls related to products that are at risk for being contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria is a foodborne illness that is caused by infection with Listeria monocytogenes bacterium.
Multiple Food Recalls Due to Listeria
Contagion reports several Listeria-related food recalls just in the first week of October. Those include:
Tip Top Poultry, Inc.
Based in Rockmart, Georgia, Tip Top Poultry is recalling ready-to-eat poultry products because of possible listeria contamination. The recall does not specify the exact products, or the amount of meat being recalled. The recall notice states that the products are frozen and were produced between January 21, 2019 and September 24, 2019. The affected products will have an establishment number of “Est. P-17453” located inside the USDA inspection mark.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) tested samples of the poultry products and found that multiple samples were positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Potentially contaminated products were shipped throughout the United States and Canada.
Fisher Packing Company
Fisher Packing Company is recalling 744 pounds of ready-to-eat pork that may contain Listeria monocytogenes. The recall follows an FSIS sampling, which discovered the presence of the bacterium. The products affected by this recall include Fisher Meats brand:
- Old Fashion Smoked Ham (lot 19239)
- Smoked Ham Shanks with Natural Juices (lot 19239)
- Canadian Bacon (lot 19239 and freeze-by date of 11/25/19)
Consumers should also look for the establishment number 74SEIN inside the USDA inspection mark. These products are available in stores throughout Indiana.
Consider Bardwell Farm, LLC
Consider Bardwell Farm in West Pawlet, Vermont is voluntarily recalling certain cheese products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. During routine testing, certain cheese products tested positive for listeria. Those products include:
- Slyboro two pound wheel
- Dorset 2.5 pound wheel
- Experience three-quarter pound square
The company distributes these products to California, Texas, New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont. The company and the FDA urge consumers who have these products to return them to Consider Bardwell Farm for a full refund.
Whole Foods Market – Dorset Cheese
Following the Dorset cheese recall from Consider Bardwell Farm, popular retailer Whole Foods Market is recalling Dorset cheese in their North Atlantic and Northeast region stores. The recall includes cheese that is cut and wrapped at the store with a Whole Foods Market scale label. Affected products have a label with a PLU code 97776, and a sell-by date through 10/30/19.
The products in this food recall affect Whole Foods stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island. Consumers who have affected products can return it to a Whole Foods store for a full refund.
What Consumers Need to Know about Listeria Infection from Food Recalls
Listeria infection, or listeriosis, is the illness that develops due to exposure to the Listeria monocytogenes bacterium. In healthy individuals, the infection causes symptoms including:
- Discomfort
- Abdominal pain
- Headache
- Nausea
- Fever
- Diarrhea
The infection generally resolves without medical intervention. However, severe infection can lead to dangerous or even fatal complications. Furthermore, infection in people with a weakened immune system or who are pregnant can be serious. In these cases, patients may experience:
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Convulsions
Pregnant women in particular are at risk of complications including:
- Miscarriage
- Stillbirth
- Fetal infection
Anyone who is concerned about listeria contamination should contact their healthcare provider. Many people do not need medical treatment, but some people require antibiotics. Even though listeriosis is generally a mild foodborne illness, you should never take a chance and risk complications.
Have Questions about Food Recalls?
Food recalls are common in the media. It is good that manufacturers alert consumers to possible risks. However, it is alarming how many food products are potentially dangerous and are available to consumers.
If you have questions about food recalls and what to do if you or someone in your family is ill because of listeria, contact Bad Food Recall. We have a plethora of information and resources, and we can help you make the best decisions for you and your family. Illness caused by negligent food manufacturers or producers certainly should not be your burden to bear. At Bad Food Recall, we can help. Call us at 877-534-5750, or email us to learn more.
Sources:
- https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-095-2019-release
- https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/dorset-cheese-voluntarily-recalled-north-atlantic-and-northeast-whole-foods-market-stores-due?
- https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/consider-bardwell-farm-recalls-dorset-slyboro-and-experience-because-possible-health-risk?
- https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/dorset-cheese-voluntarily-recalled-north-atlantic-and-northeast-whole-foods-market-stores-due?
