Giant Eagle Recalls Shredded Iceberg Lettuce for Possible Listeria

Giant Eagle was just advised by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that the agency discovered the Listeria monocytogenes pathogen in a routine random sample test of Giant Eagle Farmer’s Market eight-ounce packages of <"https://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/listeria">Shredded Iceberg Lettuce.

The lettuce was produced by River Ranch Fresh Foods LLC and has a use by date of October 14, 201.
To date, there have been no reported cases of customer illness due to consumption of this item; however, it is important to bear in mind that the incubation period for Listeria poisoning—listeriosis—can be as long as two months following consumption of contaminated food.

The recalled product is:
• Giant Eagle Farmer’s Market Shredded Iceberg Lettuce, UPC 3003430195.

The potentially contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce was also used in a small number of prepared deli ring sandwiches, which include the following:
• Giant Eagle Large Italian Sandwich Ring, UPC 23755100000
• Giant Eagle Mini Italian Sandwich Ring, UPC 24755500000
• Giant Eagle Large New York Sandwich Ring, UPC 22755100000
• Giant Eagle Mini New York Sandwich Ring, UPC 25755500000
• Giant Eagle Large All America Sandwich Ring, UPC 21755100000
• Giant Eagle Mini All American Sandwich Ring, UPC 26755500000).

In addition to the recall, Giant Eagle has implemented a register sale block to ensure that none of the product involved was inadvertently purchased; has removed all potentially affected products from its store shelves; and has initiated a proactive telephone call to customers who purchased the products, providing instructions on how to dispose of the product or return it to the store for a refund.

Giant Eagle uses loyalty card purchase history data to contact customers who may be affected by food recalls that involve a potential health risk. Giant Eagle is advising its Giant Eagle Advantage Card holders to update their contact information, which can be provided, toll-free, to Giant Eagle at 1.800.474.4777. Giant Eagle’s firm contact is Dan Donovan, who can be reached at 1.412.963.5072 or by email to Daniel. Donovan@gianteagle.com.

As we’ve mentioned, the Listeria monocytogenes pathogen can lead to the listeriosis infection, which is a potentially fatal infection that can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, abdominal cramps and pain, diarrhea, and nausea, especially in those with weakened immune systems, infants, and the elderly.

Vulnerable populations, such as the developing fetus, can suffer serious central nervous system problems. The infection can prompt premature births, or the death of the fetus via miscarriages and stillbirths. Pregnant women are 20 times likelier to become infected. Listeriosis can also lead to hearing loss or brain damage in newborns, and can prompt neurological effects and cardio respiratory failure in adults.