Reser's Expands Salad Recall Again

Reser’s is again expanding its recall of refrigerated salad items due to the potential for Listeria contamination to include products made up include product made between Oct 10 and Oct 25,. The initial recall on October 23rd/26th, included product made between Sept 5 and Oct. 9.

Both FDA and USDA issued recalls in the the responsible plant in Kansas is a dual jurisdiction facility (having both FDA and USDA related products). Affected brands include Safeway, Sysco, US Food Service, and Walmart, and encompass both retail and foodservice sizes. 

Like other recalls, there seems to be this ever on-going reissuance of the recall to include additional product. In defining the time limits of what production dates should be included in this recall, initially there must have been sufficient evidence to say after October 9th, conditions were different that would have prevented contamination on product made on October 10th and after. Was something found that refuted that and thus additional product also posed a risk…or was the decision based upon other factors? Regardless, continual reissuance of the recall had kept the company’s negative issue in the news.


USDA Recall Notice
Kansas Firm Recalls Chicken, Ham and Beef Products Due To Potential Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2013/recall-059-2013-expansion-2

Class I Recall 059-2013
Health Risk: High Nov 4, 2013
Distribution List PDF

WASHINGTON, Nov. 04, 2013 – Reser’s Fine Foods, a Topeka, Kan. establishment, is expanding its recall of chicken, ham and beef products to include all products produced between Oct. 10 and Oct. 25, 2013. The company previously expanded its recall on Oct. 26, 2013, to include product produced between Sept. 5 and Oct. 9, 2013. This is in addition to the 22,800 pounds of product recalled on Oct. 22, 2013. The products are being recalled due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The company announced that these products are being recalled in conjunction with other foods regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A full list of products being recalled in this expansion can be found on FDA’s website here. Products regulated by FSIS bear the establishment number “EST. 13520” or “P-13520” inside the USDA mark of inspection. Only products made at the Topeka, Kansas salad facility, also designated by the plant code #20 after the code date “Use By Nov 03 13 #20” are affected by this recall. No other Reser’s facilities are involved in this action.

USDA Product Recall List This release is being reissued to reflect additional products produced on dates not included in the Oct. 22, 2013, or Oct. 26, 2013, releases.
FDA Product List

The products were distributed to retailers and distributors nationwide.

The problem was discovered through microbiological testing by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. A traceback investigation and follow-up testing by FDA at the facility determined there was potential cross contamination of products with Listeria monocytogenes from product contact surfaces. Upon further review, the company determined that products produced on additional dates should be recalled. FSIS has not received reports of illnesses due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider. The Nov. 4 expansion of this recall was initiated by the firm out of an abundance of caution after learning of the potential contamination of non-food contact surfaces with Listeria monocytogenes.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

 Consumers and media with questions about the recall should contact the Reser’s Fine Foods Consumer Hotline at 1-888-257-7913 (8 a.m. – 10 p.m. Eastern Time).

Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov.“Ask Karen” live chat services are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. To report a problem with a meat, poultry or processed egg product to FSIS at any time, visit http://www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem.