More bagged salads have been recalled for potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) just announced.
The Pacific Coast Fruit Company of Portland, Oregon just issued a recall of multiple types of its bagged processed salads because it utilized a portion of the salads that were recently recalled by River Ranch in some of its retail and food service processed bagged salad. A complete list of the recalled Pacific Coast Fruit Company bagged salads, which include some Chef on the Run and Mio Fratello retail brands and some food service salad kits, can be accessed on the FDA’s web site.
The recalled Pacific Coast bagged salads were distributed to Fred Meyer, Avanti, and Evergreen in Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Idaho and are packed in a 9.6 – 10-ounce clamshell style containers. VA food service items are packed in 5 – 20-pound food service salads bags.
The firm advises consumers in possession of the recalled bagged salads not to consume the product and to return it to the place of purchase or to destroy the product. Pacific Coast Fruit can be reached at 1.503.234.6411, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Pacific Standard Time (PST).
Meanwhile, MSNBC/AP just reported that River Ranch Fresh Foods of Salinas expanded its original recall of bagged salads to now include the entire United States, as well as Canada. This is the second recall expansion issued by River Ranch. Routine random testing of finished retail salad products that were conducted in the marketplace by the FDA revealed the presence of the Listeria monocytogenes pathogen, which can be dangerous and, sometimes, deadly.
The firm advises consumers who have purchased this product not to consume it and are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. River Ranch can be reached at its 24-hour customer service center, toll-free, at 1.800.762.7708. or 1.888.624.2569.
The recalled bagged salads sell under the brands River Ranch, Farm Stand, Hy-Vee, Marketside, Shurfresh, The Farmer’s Market, Cross Valley, Fresh n Easy, Promark, and Sysco, said MSNBC/AP. The recalled retail and foodservice salad bags bear either “Best By” code dates between 12MAY2012 and 29MAY2012 or Julian dates between 116 and 125. The code date can usually be found on the bag’s upper, right-hand corner.
Meanwhile, last October, we wrote that River Ranch Fresh Foods recalled 2,154 cases of its range of bagged salad products over concerns that the produce was contaminated with the Listeria monocytogenes pathogen. The decision to initiate that recall followed a routine random test conducted by the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
To date, there have been no reports of illness; however, as we’ve long explained, it is important to bear in mind that the Listeria pathogen thrives in cold environments, such as refrigerators. The Listeria pathogen also has a fairly long incubation period—up to 70 days—and well tolerates heat and dry temperatures, adding further challenges to the pathogen’s eradication.
As we’ve written, 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.
