The FDA has issued an alert for the recall of certain lots of Bean and Soy sprouts produced from Chang Farms of Whatley, Massachusetts, due to the potential presence of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria contamination.
The affected product is packaged in 10 lb bags (bulk) and 12 oz plastic bags (retail), labeled under the Chang Farm Brand as Soy Sprouts and have a “Sell By” date of May 23, 2009 or May 24, 2009 and Bean Sprouts with “Use By” date of May 23, 2009 or May 24, 2009.
The product has been distributed to retail stores and restaurants throughout MA, CT, NY and NJ.
No illnesses have been reported to date.
The contamination was discovered after a sample was secured at a retail store in New York which tested positive for L. monocytogenes.
Last April, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) warned the public of the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in soy sprouts produced by Chang Farms. Notice the pattern? We recently blogged on J&B Meats and Valley Meats and their four-time record of E. coli O157:H7 contamination. It’s bad enough for a food company to let a single batch of pathogen-tainted product out the door and into public hands, but when it becomes routine practice, we’ve got an even bigger problem.
Speaking of BIG problems, the Setton Pistachio Salmonella outbreak strikes again with yet another late-coming recall. According to the FDA alert:
Season Produce Co. is recalling its Roasted & Salted Shelled Pistachios and Raw Shelled 80% Whole Pistachio that were shipped from Setton Pistachios of Terra Bella Inc. This product has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections.
This product was repacked under the 5# Wild Rose label January 28, 2009 in 5 pound boxes and shipped between the dates of January 28, 2009 to March 28, 2009. The product was available from Season Produce for cash and carry and shipped to foodservice distributors in Los Angeles, Ca. The effected product lot numbers are as follows:
5 Pound Roasted & Salted Shelled Pistachios in a Wild Rose Label Box.
Lot Numbers 775 & 69905 Pound Raw Shelled Pistachios in a Wild Rose Label Box.
Lot Numbers 3672, 3399, 3288, 3905,4421, 4536, 5970, & 6010
To learn more about Listeria monocytogenes, please visit: Listeria and Listeriosis
To learn more about Salmonella, please visit: Salmonella and Salmonellosis
To learn more about E. coli O157:H7 and Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), please visit: Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)
Richard J. Arsenault, 2010
