The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has alerted the public that H-E-B stores in the state of Texas are recalling two single-serving soup products. These soups were made in-house from vegetable ingredients that are part of a massive recall issued on October 19th by Mann Packing, headquartered in Salinas, California. These vegetables may have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, which can cause a very dangerous form of food poisoning.
The two single-serving soups affected by the recall are “H-E-B ASIAN NOODLE CUP BEEF” (UPC code 26010400000) and “H-E-B ASIAN NOODLE CUP CHICKEN” (UPC code 26010100000). Because of the food poisoning risk, anyone who has bought one of these soups should either dispose of it properly or return it to its place of purchase for a full refund. If the soup has been stored in the refrigerator, the refrigerator should be cleaned out and wiped down with a mild bleach solution.
Mann Packing recalled a large number of its minimally processed and / or raw vegetable products after a random inspection by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency found a single positive finding for Listeria monocytogenes bacteria in one of the products. Foodborne listeriosis outbreaks have sickened hundreds and killed dozens of people over the last five years. The disease is particularly dangerous to pregnant women and their unborn babies, the elderly, or people with underlying chronic medical conditions or compromised immune systems; it can lead to miscarriage / stillbirth, birth deformities, meningitis, encephalitis, and other serious complications.
To date no illnesses have been linked to the Mann vegetable recall (a full list of the recalled vegetable products can be found at the FDA website). However, the incubation period for listeriosis can last up to 70 days after someone has eaten food contaminated by the bacteria. The symptoms of listeria infection include fever, headache, neck stiffness, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, and diarrhea. If you experience these symptoms, you should seek medical assistance immediately.
