vegetable products recall-productos vegetales

Nationwide Vegetable Products Recall Over Listeria Concerns

by

A California-based company is recalling a number of vegetable products sold at retailers ranging from Walmart to Trader Joe’s throughout the United States and Canada, over concerns about possible listeria contamination.

Mann Packing, one of the largest suppliers of fresh vegetables in the country, announced it was voluntarily recalling nearly 100 products — from broccoli florets to brussels sprouts to cauliflower and stirfry medleys — because of a single positive result found on one vegetable product during random sampling by the Canadian Food Inspection.

Supermarket chains across the United States, including Whole Foods Market, Walmart, H-E-B, Target, Trader Joe’s, Meijer and Albertsons, have issued dozens of veggie recalls since Friday.

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria that causes weakened immune systems or fatal infections in young children and frail adults, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The company said in the recall notice that public health officials have not yet reported any illnesses related to these products.

Related: Avoid Food Poisoning From Raw Produce and Fresh-Squeezed Juices

Among the biggest retail recalls stemming from Mann Packing’s is Meijer’s. The Grand Rapids, Michigan based chain announced that it is recalling 39 fresh vegetable products, such as vegetable trays, broccoli florets, asparagus spears and shareable autumn harvest salads.

The food was sold in stores in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin and purchased Sept. 27 through Oct. 20.

Concerned customers may call Meijer at 800-543-3704.

The Mann Packaging vegetable products recall also prompted the following:

  • Whole Foods is recalling salads from 10 northern California stores, such as Veggie Power Blend, Sesame Chicken Power Salad and Mexican Chicken Power Salad. All were sold by the pound at salad bars between Sept. 28 and Oct. 20. Consumers may call 844-936-8255 Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-10 p.m. CST or Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m.- 6 p.m.
  • Albertsons, Safeway, Vons and Pak N’ Save stores in California, Hawaii, Nevada, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota and Wyoming are recalling certain fresh vegetable trays and cups. The items have sell-by dates through Oct. 24 and are packaged in clear plastic trays and cups of various sizes.
  • Seattle-based Triple B Corp. is recalling salad kits and stir fry mixes, sold in store delis and used in hospitals, schools and hotels in Oregon and Washington. Consumers who have concerns may contact Triple Bat 206-577-9852 Monday to Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. PST.
  • Triple-B is recalling  broccoli florets, stir fry kits, veggie trays with cauliflower and veggie pack combos that were sold in store delis in Alaska.

Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled vegetable products are urged to discard them or return them for a refund.

Customers may also contact Mann Packing at 888-470-2681.

“As an owner of this company and a mom, providing safe and healthy foods to our consumers and their families is always our top priority,” Gina Nucci, director of corporate marketing for Mann’s Packing, said in a written statement. “This voluntary recall is a reflection of our commitment to ensuring the safety of our consumers.”

A full list of recalled products and UPC codes are available on the Food and Drug Administration’s website.