CRF Frozen Food expanded a voluntary recall for some of its products, which included organic and non-organic fruits and vegetables, due to Listeria risks. The bacteria was found during a routine testing of the food by Ohio health officials.
The voluntary recall is being made in cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The organism found is scientifically named Listeria monocytogenes. It can cause serious and sometimes fatal harmed in a person’s health, according to the company’s statement.
Most of the infected people can suffer from only short-term symptoms like high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. However, those with an already compromised immune system may be affected in more serious and permanent manner. In addition, the bacteria can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
The recall includes all of the frozen organic and traditional fruit and vegetable products manufactured or processed in CRF Frozen Foods’ Pasco facility since May 1, 2014. The Pasco factory was the only one found with the bacteria risks, according to the statement.
All affected products have the ‘best by’ dates or ‘sell by’ dates between April 26, 2016, and April 26, 2018. The company urged those consumers who are in possession of some of those products that match this dates to be returned or discarded, but not eaten.
The affected products include approximately 358 consumer products sold under 42 separate brands. The detailed names for the products are in the company’s website. Yet, some of them are organic and non-organic broccoli, butternut squash, carrots, cauliflower, corn, edamame, green beans and Italian beans. Among other food being recalled, there’s kale, leeks, lima beans, onions, peas, pepper strips, potatoes and potato medley
“We apologize for any concern or inconvenience this expanded recall has caused our customers and consumers who enjoy our products,” CRF Frozen Food said. “Consumers who purchased these products may return them to the store where they were purchased for a refund, or simply discard them.”
Seven people infected with Listeria
Even though the operations at the Pasco facility have been suspended and the company has issued the recall, seven people from three different states became infected with Listeria. This infections were linked to the CRF products.
Two of the seven infected have died, according to the CDC, but their deaths were not due to the infection, instead it was related to other illness among the patients. The products were sold in all fifty states and in some Canadian provinces such as British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.
Source: Food and Drug Administration