Possible listeria contamination in organic peas has caused Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd. to issue its second frozen organic food recall in eight days.
Organic by Nature brand frozen sweet peas are the implicated food this time, following Costco’s April 15 recall of Nature’s Touch brand organic berry cherry blend. The frozen organic fruit is linked to a Hepatitis A outbreak that has sickened at least 13, according to Canadian health officials.
Costco’s recall of the Organic by Nature frozen peas from locations in British Colombia, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan comes a day after CRF Frozen Foods of Pasco, WA, recalled 15 frozen vegetable products in the U.S. and Canada.
The CRF initiated the recall, which includes the Organic by Nature peas sold at Canadian Costco stores, after Ohio officials detected Listeria monocytogenes in a samples of frozen peas and frozen corn in CRF products collected at the retail level.
Consumers can identify the recalled Organic by Nature brand frozen organic sweet peas by looking for the following label information:
2.5 kg
Best by dates: 10-22-17; 12-03-17; 03-16-18
UPC number 8 46355 00061 9
Because of the long shelf life of the frozen organic peas, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is encouraging consumers to check their freezers to make sure they do not have the recalled vegetables in their homes.
“Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased,” the CFIA recall notice states. “Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick.”
Symptoms of Listeria infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness. Pregnant women, the elderly young children and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, the infection can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn or even stillbirth. In severe cases of illness, people may die.
The broader recall
CRF’s recall includes four brands: Schwans, True Goodness by Meijer; Wellsley Farms Organic; and Organic by Nature. The recall is for various varieties of peas, corn and mixed vegetables.
“We know the recalled frozen vegetables were distributed to retailers and distribution centers between Sept. 13, 2015, and March 16 in the following states, and may be redistributed in other states nationwide: AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan of Canada,” according to the company’s recall notice on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website.
For additional information, consumers may call 844-551-5595 Mondays through Fridays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT.
No illnesses had been reported as of Friday in connection with the frozen organic vegetables.
The recalled vegetables were sold in plastic bags and are marked with “Use By Dates” located on the back of the package. All of the dates are in 2017 or 2018.
