Growers Express Expands Recall of Fresh Processed Vegetable Product After Additional Listeria Positive

Growers Express is expanding its original recall of frozen vegetables posted on July 1 originating from their Biddeford Maine production facility.   The release states, "After further testing of an additional product lot from the suspected source of the recall, a single retail sample was found to be positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The company has expanded the list of recalled products to include certain specific fresh Brussels sprouts, fresh cauliflower florets and fresh green beans products with the “best by” or “pack dates” identified in the chart below."

So basically, they held four days of production (Best by 6-26 to 6/29) thinking they had captured the issue, but after testing, they found an additional positive sample in a different production lot.  Being that they found one positive, one would guess that this indicates that the contamination level is low.   This is a challenge with Listeria contamination.....a small amount getting into production of product, probably a  difficulty-to-find point source that contributes a few cells throughout production.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/growers-express-expands-voluntary-recall-select-fresh-vegetable-products-due-potential-contamination
Growers Express Expands Voluntary Recall of Select Fresh Vegetable Products Due to Potential Contamination of Listeria monocytogenes

Summary

Company Announcement Date: July 15, 2019
FDA Publish Date:July 15, 2019
Product Type:Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Due to Potential Contamination of Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:Growers Express
Brand Name:
Product Description:  Fresh vegetable products
 

Company Announcement

Growers Express takes issues of food safety seriously and in an abundance of caution and in the interest of protecting consumers is expanding the list of select fresh vegetable products affected by a voluntary recall that was issued on July 1, 2019. After further testing of an additional product lot from the suspected source of the recall, a single retail sample was found to be positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The company has expanded the list of recalled products to include certain specific fresh Brussels sprouts, fresh cauliflower florets and fresh green beans products with the “best by” or “pack dates” identified in the chart below.

The products originated from a Growers Express production facility in Biddeford, Maine and were distributed to the states of Massachusetts and Maine. Growers Express is no longer sourcing vegetables from the suspected cause of the contamination. There are no reported illnesses to date.
Listeria is an organism that 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 short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

No other Growers Express products are impacted or part of this expansion. This recall does notaffect or include any Green Giant® canned or frozen vegetable products.

Consumers who purchased any of the products listed below from the affected “best by” or “pack dates” or with an unreadable date code are urged not to consume them and to throw the products away.

Retailer/Distributor  Brand/Label Description  Item Name Package Weight  Item SKU  UPC
Lot No.  States Affected  Best By/Pack Date
Big Y Green Giant Fresh Brussels Sprouts 2 lb BSC100103 605806028076 190628-405839 MA Pack Date  6/28/2019
Native Maine Growers Express Cauliflower Florets 3 lb CAC102102 Foodservice 190627-405616 ME Best By  7/11/2019 
Ruby Robinson (PFG) Peak Green Beans 5 lb BGC101105 Foodservice 190625-405265 ME Pack Date 6/25/2019
Cauliflower Florets 3 lb CAC102105 Foodservice 190628-405842 ME Pack Date 6/28/2019

Customers also have been notified to remove any remaining products from shelves and inventory. Please refer to the toll-free number listed on each package with any questions or requests for refund. Visit www.GrowersExpress.com/voluntaryrecall External Link Disclaimerfor the most up-to-date information.