The expected “secondary” recalls from the Listeria outbreak identified in March, and which may date as far back as 2013, are piling up.
In March, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta connected reports on eight people from California, Maryland, and Washington who shared Listeria infections that could be linked to vegetable products produced by CRF Frozen Foods of Pasco, WA, based on both epidemiological and laboratory evidence.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture then collected from retail grocery stores and tested True Goodness by Meijer brand frozen organic white sweet cut corn and frozen organic petite green peas, both products produced by CRF Frozen Foods. Ohio’s routine product sampling program isolated Listeria monocytogenes from True Goodness by Meijer brand frozen organic white sweet cut corn and frozen organic petite green peas.
Both products were produced by CRF Frozen Foods. Whole genome sequencing showed that the Listeria monocytogenes isolate from the frozen corn was closely related genetically to seven bacterial isolates from ill people, and the Listeria monocytogenes isolate from the frozen peas was closely related genetically to one isolate from an ill person. This close genetic relationship provides additional evidence that the people in this outbreak became ill from eating frozen vegetables produced by CRF Frozen Foods.
CRF’s first recall came on April 23nd for 11 frozen vegetable products. After discussions with both CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), CRF expanded its recall on May 4, 2016 to include all of its frozen organic and traditional fruit and vegetable products manufactured or processed in CRF Frozen Foods’ Pasco facility since May 1, 2014.
Approximately 358 consumer products sold under 42 separate brands landed on the expanded recall list.
FDA also took environmental samples in March from the Oregon Potato Company, also located in Pasco, WA, and found them to be closely related genetically to seven of the isolates. Oregon Potato Company responded by voluntarily recalling wholesale onion products, prompting downstream customer recalls. Such secondary recall notices are important because FDA says it cannot on its own go public with certain confidential commercial information including disclosure of supply chains.
Among the additional recalls are:
ConAgra Foods recalled Watts Brothers Farms Organic Mixed Vegetables, Organic Super Sweet Corn (Yellow/Gold), and Organic Peas and Trader Joe’s Organic Super Sweet Corn due to the potential for these products to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The Watts Brothers and Trader Joe’s recalled products contain vegetables that are part of the CRF Frozen Foods recall.
Starwood, WA-based Twin City Foods Inc. recalled products containing organic peas it received from CRF Frozen Foods. These products include Central Market Organic Peas and Mixed Vegetables, HEB Organic Mixed Vegetables, Sweetfrost Mixed Vegetables, and Woodstock Organic Mixed Vegetables due to the potential for these products to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
Ajinomoto Windsor Inc. recalled various Not-Ready-To Eat frozen foods due to the potential for these products to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products contain vegetables that were included in the CRF Frozen Foods recall. The company said it took the action in cooperation with the USDA and FDA investigations.
The Kroger Co. recalled Simple Truth Organic Mixed Vegetables because of the supplier’s recall for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Stores operating under the following names are included in this recall: Kroger, Jay-C, Dillons, Bakers, Gerbes, King Soopers, City Market, Fry’s, Fred Meyer, Ralphs, QFC and Smith’s. Sales were made in 31 states. Separately, Kroger also recalled Broccoli Raisin Salad sold in some stores.
Salem, OR-based NORPAC Foods Inc. recalled two frozen private label vegetable items, Natural Directions Organic Mixed Vegetables and Natural Directions Organic Green Peas, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
