First Source Recalls Products With Sunflower Kernels due to Listeria Risk

First Source, a bulk distributor and packer of candy and other gourmet specialty items based in Tonawanda, NY, is recalling the following items because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes:

• 15 LBS Alpine Valley Fitness Mix with lot code BD 161021
• 15 LBS Alpine Valley Yogurt Fruit/Nut Mix with lot code BD 161261
• Alpine Tub “Roasted & Salted Sunflower Kernels” 10.25oz with Best By 03-24-17
• Alpine Tub “Roasted & Unsalted Sunflower Kernels” 10.25oz with Best By 3-23-17, 3-30-17, 5-3-17
• Wegmans square tub “Fitness Mix” 20oz with Best By 12-24-16
• Wegmans square tub “Sunshine Cranberry Delight” 20oz with Best By 12/15/16, 1-7-17, 2-9-17
• 15 LBS Alpine Valley Sunshine Cranberry Delight with Lot Code BD 161021 and BD 161261
• Flave Fitness Mix 8oz with Best By 4-20-17 and 05-02-17
• Flave Tropical Trail Mix 8oz with Best By 4-20-17
• Flave Oriental Mix 6oz with Best By 3-10-17 and 4-21-17
• Flave Sunflower Seeds 7.5oz with Best By 4-20-17
• Gonzo 2 Go “Sunshine Cranberry Delight” 4.5oz with Best By 2-10-17
• Gonzo 2 Go “Fitness Mix” 5oz with Best By 1-7-17
• Stewarts Sunshine Cranberry Delite 5oz with Best By 1-18-17
• Tops square tub “Roasted & Unsalted Sunflower Kernels” 10.25 with Best By 3-30-17, 5-3-17
• Tops square tub “Roasted & Salted Sunflower Kernels” 10.25 with Best By 1-28-17

The recalled items were distributed in the following states via retail stores: IN, LA, MA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, PA,VA, WV and SC, between March 22, 2016, and May 21, 2016. The company stated that no illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The company stated that the potential for contamination was noted after First Source received notification from its sunflower kernel supplier, SunOpta of Crookston, MN, regarding positive Listeria monocytogenes results.

Consumers who have purchased any of these items are urged to destroy the product. If customers have further distributed any of these items, please immediately contact your accounts, advise them of the recall situation, and have them return their outstanding recalled stocks to you and maintain and share your record of the destruction of these items. Consumers with questions may contact the company at (716) 389-0264, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Eastern Time.

The First Source recall joins several other recent recalls involving sunflower kernels supplied by SunOpta. They include: Hy-Vee Inc. trail mix products, Papa John’s Oriental Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing and Citrus Kale Salad With Chicken, Dakota Style Food Inc., TreeHouse Foods Inc., and SunOpta’s own recall.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.