Expanded Frozen Vegetable Recall Points to Poor Recall Procedures

ConAgra announced  an expanded recall of Watts Farms organic frozen vegetable products, these were sold in Costco.  The recall originated back in May as part of the CRF frozen vegetable recall.  According to the notice "As part of ConAgra’s internal recall follow-up procedures, additional package codes were recently identified."  That means that product purchased and used was not identified as part of the recall procedures when CRF made the announcement.   So there were some issues in identifying affected inventory.

An issue like this could be huge if it had been a riskier hazard.  They essentially let affected product out in commerce for an additional 3 months.  Luckily, the contamination levels were low and this is a product that is normally cooked.

FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm514090.htm
Updated: Additional Package Codes Of Watts Brothers Farms Organic Mixed Vegetables, Organic Super Sweet Corn, and Organic Peas Recalled Because of Possible Health Risk
July 28, 2016

Contact
Consumers Consumer Affairs Hotline  (800) 881-3989
Media  Kristine Mulford  kristine.mulford@conagrafoods.com  312-549-5522

Announcement
View Product Photos


CHICAGO — ConAgra Foods is voluntarily recalling additional package codes of Watts Brothers Farms Organic Mixed Vegetables, Organic Super Sweet Corn (Yellow/Gold), and Organic Peas due to the potential for these products to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. These products were first recalled on May 5, 2016 and have not been available for purchase since this date. As part of ConAgra’s internal recall follow-up procedures, additional package codes were recently identified.

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.


There have been no confirmed illnesses to date from the products listed below.


The products covered by this recall were distributed in the U.S. and sold at Costco. A complete list of impacted products is included below with the new additional package codes listed in bold. No other ConAgra Foods or Watts Brothers retail branded products are impacted by this recall. For full details on the original recall, click here.

Watts Brothers Farms Products

The Best Before Date and Package Code is located on the back of the package above the zipper. The HH:MM portion of the Package Code indicates the time product was made and varies by package. Please refer to the attached photographs for examples.

See List - http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm514090.htm

Consumers who have purchased these items are advised to discard them or return them to the store where originally purchased. ConAgra Foods is working with its customers to ensure the packages are removed from store shelves and are no longer distributed. Consumers with questions should call our Consumer Affairs hotline at (800) 881-3989, open 9 am through 7 pm CDT, Monday through Friday.

CORE Release

Original Release - May 5, 2016

Expanded Release - May 6, 2016