According to the FDA recall notice, products are distributed nationwide under the Parkers Farm, Parkers, Happy Farms, Central Markets, Hy-Top, Amish Classic, Say Cheez, Win Schuler, and Bucky Badger labels. These products were sold at several retail stores including but not limited to Hy-Vee, Cub, Rainbow, Byerly’s, Lunds, Target, Whole Foods, Price Chopper, Nash Finch, Costco, ALDI, Wal-Mart, and Brookshire stores.
What we can surmise: the company produced a line of refrigerated products including peanut butter – yes, refrigerated peanut butter, and cheese spreads. While it could be expected that Listeria would not grow in peanut butter because of low water activity (Aw), peanut butter could have become contaminated if that product was produced using shared equipment (that was not properly cleaned) or through bad handling and processing practices that led cross contamination. One would guess that the cheese spreads would also be unlikely to support the growth of Listeria (low Aw) and the same could be guessed about the salsa (low pH). But Listeria could be brought into the facility from the ingredients used to make the cheese products, or through other means, and then survived in a niche within the processing environment, especially f there was build-up of residual cheese ‘stuff’ in the processing environment or on the equipment. This notion is supported by the fact that this is the second recall due to Listeria (the last in 2010….of course this begs the question to what degree was the company putting the effort towards control).
It would be interesting to see if this was the same Listeria strain found in both recalls. I would be willing to bet it is the same strain. Work done at Penn State has shown Listeria’s ability to form a resistant state that can survive for long periods of time. In other recall situations, whole genome sequencing has verified that the same organism, outside of a few changes of base pairs in the whole genome, can re-emerge after years within that same processing environment.
So while none of the finished products may be viewed as risky for the growth of Listeria (due to low Aw or low pH), this does not preclude the organism from being present on the product. And here again, we have a scenario where a positive product test triggers a recall on what would probably be viewed as a lower risk product.
FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm390421.htm
Recall -- State Press Release
FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and safety alerts from states as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA is not responsible for the content of these notices.
Parkers Farm Acquisition, LLC Issues Voluntary Recall of Products Due to Listeria Contamination
Contact
Consumer:
800-869-6685
Media:
Margaret Hart, margaret.hart@state.mn.us,
651-201-6131
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 22, 2014 - The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is alerting consumers to avoid eating certain peanut butter, cheese, salsa, and spreads produced by Parkers Farm Acquisition, LLC of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, after state agriculture department product sampling determined some of the finished products to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.
There have been no reports of illness associated with consumption of the products. Parkers Farm Acquisition, LLC is cooperating with the MDA investigation and has issued a voluntary recall of all products with the “sell by” dates listed below. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged to return them to the place of purchase or discard them.
The list of recalled products includes:
· 16-ounce Parkers peanut butter in square plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including creamy, crunchy, honey creamy and honey crunchy varieties with a sell by date before 3/20/2015;
· 34-ounce Parkers peanut butter in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including creamy and crunchy varieties with a sell by date before 3/20/2015;
· 12-ounce Parkers spreads in round or square plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including jalapeño and pimento varieties with a sell by date before 9/20/2014;
· 8-ounce and 16-ounce Parkers cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including sharp cheddar, bacon, onion, smoked cheddar, Swiss almond, horseradish, garlic, port wine, and “Swiss & cheddar” varieties with a sell by date before 3/20/2015;
· 16-ounce Parkers salsa in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including hot, mild, garlic, and fire-roasted varieties with a sell by date before 7/20/2014;
· 10-ounce Parkers cheese balls or logs (plastic overwrap), including sharp cheddar, port wine, ranch, and “smokey bacon” varieties with a sell by date before 3/20/2015;
· 10-ounce Happy Farms cheese balls (plastic overwrap), including sharp cheddar and port wine varieties with a sell by date before 3/20/2015;
· 16-ounce Happy Farms cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including sharp cheddar and port wine varieties with a sell by date before 3/20/2015;
· 8-ounce Central Markets cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including sharp cheddar, port wine, horseradish, and Swiss almond varieties with a sell by date before 3/20/2015;
· 12-ounce and 20-ounce Hy-Top cheese spread in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including pimento and jalapeño varieties with a sell by date before 9/20/2014;
· 8-ounce Amish Classic cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including sharp cheddar, port wine, and Swiss almond varieties with a sell by date before 3/20/2015;
· 14-ounce Say Cheez beer cheese in round plastic container (tub with snap on lid), including regular and hot varieties with a sell by date before 3/20/2015;
· 10-ounce Win Schuler original variety cheese balls or logs (plastic overwrap) with a sell by date before 3/20/2015;
· 8-ounce,12-ounce, and 14-ounce Bucky Badger cheese spreads (tub with snap-on lid) including cheddar, port wine, bacon, garlic, horseradish, jalapeño, and Swiss almond varieties with a sell by date before 3/20/2015; and
· 5-pound foodservice products including cold pack cheese foods, cheese spreads and peanut butter with a sell by date before 3/20/2015.
The products are distributed nationwide under the Parkers Farm, Parkers, Happy Farms, Central Markets, Hy-Top, Amish Classic, Say Cheez, Win Schuler, and Bucky Badger labels. These products were sold at several retail stores including but not limited to Hy-Vee, Cub, Rainbow, Byerly’s, Lunds, Target, Whole Foods, Price Chopper, Nash Finch, Costco, ALDI, Wal-Mart, and Brookshire stores. Consumers with questions can contact the company at (800) 869-6685 or the website: www.parkersfarm.com.
Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially serious disease marked by fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, and nausea. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis, but it can sometimes cause fatal infections in infants, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis can also lead to miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.
Any consumers who believe they may have become ill after eating the products should contact their health care provider.
Company Website
http://www.parkersfarm.com/index.html
PR News Wire
Parkers Farm Peanut Butter is Cool, Naturally -Fresh, Refrigerated Natural Peanut Butter Introduced to Select Wal-Mart Super Centers-
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/parkers-farm-peanut-butter-is-cool-naturally-55030752.html
COON RAPIDS, Minn., Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Parkers Farm, Inc., a rapidly
growing producer of refrigerated food condiments, cheeses and spreads,
announced today the introduction of Parkers Farm All Natural Creamy Peanut
Butter to 342 Select Wal-Mart Super Centers across the United States. The
product can be found in the deli departments of the Wal-Mart Super Centers.
In-store sampling of the peanut butter will begin in November.
Parkers Farm peanut butter is known for its fresh, rich peanut taste and
consistency, which are maintained by refrigeration. This, along with a packed
inner seal, allows the peanut butter to retain its taste throughout its shelf
life. Other natural peanut butters separate due to lack of refrigeration and
then the oil begins the break-down process, which deteriorates the flavor of
the peanut butter. When the consumer gets the product home and refrigerates
it, the peanut butter becomes too stiff to spread. Parkers Farm peanut butter
does not separate or have to be mixed together before use, so it is ready to
be spread on any snack from the moment you take off the lid.
Parkers Farm All Natural Creamy Peanut Butter is also nutritious and a
great food choice for people of all ages looking for a spread for their
sandwiches, ingredients for their favorite dishes, or just a quick bite to
eat. Parkers Farm peanut butter contains no preservatives, no trans fatty
acids, no sugars and no hydrogenated oils, for a fresh peanut taste. Parkers
Farm also produces honey roasted (made with real honey) and crunchy peanut
butter products. All their peanut butters are all natural, and are made with
USA-grown and USDA approved peanuts.
"Tasting is believing; once people try our peanut butter they often become
hooked," said Rick Etrheim, president, Parkers Farm, Inc. "People across the
country ask us where they can buy Parkers Farm peanut butter; now that it's in
the deli department at select Wal-Mart Super Centers across America, more
people can enjoy this unique product."
About Parkers Farm
Parkers Farm was incorporated in 1977 as a manufacturer of Cold Pack
Cheese Spreads. After moving into a state-of-the-art facility in 1983, they
expanded the product line to include high quality peanut butter, pimento
spread, six varieties of bagel spreads and five types of fresh salsa.
Recently, Con Queso and Jalapeno Nacho dips have been added to the product
offerings, and a Feta Cheese line is currently in the works. In the last five
years, Parkers Farm product demand has increased by 40 percent.
SOURCE Parkers Farm, Inc.
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/local/251707461.html
Parkers Farm recalls dozens of products for possible bacterial contamination
Updated: March 22, 2014 - 6:49 PM
It’s the Coon Rapids company’s second bacteria-related recall in four years.
By Kelly Smith kelly.smith@startribune.com
Parkers Farm, the Coon Rapids food company known for its peanut butter and line of refrigerated snacks, is recalling more than a dozen products after state investigators found some were contaminated with listeria, an infection-causing bacterium.
No illnesses have been reported, but the Minnesota Department of Agriculture issued an alert Saturday for consumers to avoid 15 Parkers Farm’s cheese spreads, peanut butter and other products.
The department said Parkers Farm is cooperating with the investigation. A message left with the company wasn’t returned Saturday, but the company said in a statement on its website that the recall is a precaution even though no recalled products sold at retail stores have been associated with any illnesses.
State investigators testing the company’s products found some were contaminated with listeria monocytogenes bacteria, which can cause a rare but serious disease, especially for infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms include fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea.
The incident is the second listeria-related recall in four years for Parkers Farm. In 2010, the company had a similar extensive recall, although no illnesses were reported. That year, Parkers Farm temporarily shut down its plant and was fined $1,900 for selling adulterated food, losing control of its manufacturing process and failing to adequately train and supervise workers. The company also had to reimburse the state for $46,000 in lab testing related to the recall.
On Saturday, the Agriculture Department advised anyone who may have gotten sick from the recalled products to contact a health care provider and urged consumers who have purchased recalled products to return or discard them.
The products are distributed nationwide to stores such as Cub Foods, Rainbow , Lunds, Whole Foods and Target under various labels — Parkers Farm, Parkers, Happy Farms, Central Markets, Hy-Top, Amish Classic, Say Cheez, Win Schuler, and Bucky Badger.
The recalled items include Parkers peanut butter, salsa and spreads.
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/business/96425654.html
Coon Rapids firm Parkers Farm fined after peanut butter recall
Article by: MIKE HUGHLETT , Star Tribune
Updated: June 16, 2010 - 5:41 AM
Parkers Farm, cited after listeria was tied to its peanut butter and other food, also must reimburse the state $46,000 for lab testing.
Parkers Farm, a Coon Rapids food manufacturer, has been fined $1,900 for food safety lapses after an extensive recall of peanut butter, cheese and other products in January.
The recall from such stores as Cub, Rainbow, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Whole Foods and Hy-Vee was prompted by tests that found listeria bacteria in finished Parkers Farm's products. It led to a temporary shutdown of the company's plant.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture said Tuesday that Parkers Farm was cited for selling adulterated food.
The state also found that the firm lost control of its manufacturing process and failed to adequately train and supervise workers, said Michael Schommer, a department spokesman.
Altogether for those three violations, the company could have been fined as much as $3,000. Parkers Farm also must reimburse the state $46,000 for lab testing connected to the recall.
No illnesses were reported at the time of the recall, which involved 12 products, including Parkers Farm-branded peanut butter, cheese, bagel spreads and salsa.
The privately owned company didn't return calls for comment.
Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children and frail or elderly people. Healthy people are more likely to suffer high fever, severe headaches, nausea and diarrhea
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