Taylor Farms Pacific just announced a voluntary recall of an array of products containing broccoli over concerns about contamination with the Listeria bacteria, said The Associated Press (AP). A random test by agricultural department officials confirmed the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.
The broccoli, said the AP, can be found in cooked and fresh products with expiration dates from February 7, 2011, to March 7, 2011 that were distributed in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington and which were sold at Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, and Pak N’ Save stores.
To date, no reports of food Poisoning or foodborne Illness have been reported in connection with this outbreak; however, it is important to bear in mind that food poisoning symptoms can take some time to become apparent.
The recalled products, according the just-released AP list include:
TFarms
- Snack Pot Penne Alfredo 8/10.75 oz Tray
- Snack Pot Pasta Primavera 8/12 oz Tray
Raleys
- Asian Pasta Toss 1/12 oz Tray
- Yellow Curry Chicken Rice Bowl 17 oz Tray
- Veggie Blend 4/12 oz
- Cheese Stuffed Shells W/Rustica Tomatoes Sauce 14 oz
- Grilled Chicken Breast W/Mashed Potatoes & Gravy 14 oz
- Vegetable 1/3(hash) Tray
- Broccoli Rice & Cheese 16 oz Tray
- Vegetable & Dip Pre-made Impulse 1/28 oz Tray
- Udon Pork Noodle Bowl 17 oz Tray
- Udon Chicken Noodle Bowl 17 oz Tray
- Family Grilled Chicken Penne Alfredo 37.5 oz Tray
- Vegetable Catering Kit
Signature Caf©
- Veggie Pleaser 4/23 oz Tray
- Veggie Pleaser 1/23 oz Tray
- Mediterranean Snacker Tray 4/34 oz
- Mediterranean Snacker Tray 1/34 oz
For susceptible populations and the elderly, food poisoning infection with the
Listeria pathogen can cause significant illness linked to issues with the central nervous system as well as the developing fetus and placenta. As we have long reported, consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause Listeriosis, a potentially fatal Food Borne Illness. While healthy people rarely contract Listeriosis, the symptoms of Listeria Poisoning are high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, nausea, Abdominal Cramps and pain, and diarrhea.
Listeria monocytogenes reportedly infects about 2,500 people in the U.S., killing 500, and is known to result in serious, sometimes fatal, infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, persons with HIV infection, and those undergoing chemotherapy.
In pregnant women, Listeria food poisoning can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, or
birth of a baby suffering from the infection. Pregnant women are about 20 times likelier than others to be infected; Listeriosis can kill fetuses, prompt premature births, and can lead to hearing loss or brain damage in newborns, and can prompt neurological effects and cardio respiratory failure in adults, as was revealed in a recent study.
