This would be considered a low risk in that the items 1) will not support the growth of Listeria, although organisms may survive 2) items are likely to be washed (cirtus) or cooked (potatoes) before use and 3) the Listeria was found on equipment and not the products. To find Listeria on fresh produce is not uncommon (Heisick etal 1989), but once you find it on a food contact surface, you have to follow your corrective action. For this facility, it will be important to understand whether this is a transient organism or is it an established strain.
The Produce News
https://www.theproducenews.com/news-dep-menu/29719-listeria-risk-prompts-citrus-potato-recall
Listeria risk prompts citrus, potato recall
Freshouse II LLC of Salisbury, NC, is recalling Valencia oranges, lemons, limes, organic limes, and red B potatoes because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
The recall was voluntarily initiated after the company’s routine internal testing identified Listeria monocytogenes on a piece of equipment in one of the packing facilities. "We have ceased the production and distribution of the product that was packed on the equipment in question and are taking corrective actions and continually evaluating our cleaning and sanitation regimes," the company said in a statement.
No illnesses have been associated with this recall to date.
Consumers can identify recalled retail products by looking for the brand, UPC number and, if available the trace number printed on the tag or clip attached to the opening end of the bag. The recalled products were shipped directly to retailer distribution centers in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia and to wholesalers in Maryland and North Carolina (see table below). Click here to see photos and a list of recalled products.
Freshouse II LLC has notified its retail and wholesale customers who received the recalled product directly from the company and is requesting that these customers remove the recalled product from commerce. The company is also asking direct customers to notify their customers of this recall.
“We voluntarily issued this recall out of an abundance of caution with the steadfast intent to minimize even the slightest risk to public health,” said Jamey Friedman, president. “We take food safety and this recall seriously. Freshouse is committed to providing consumers with fresh, nutritious, safe products.”
Listeria monocytogenes 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 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...
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. Announces Recall of Select Valencia Oranges, Lemons, and Various Products Containing Fresh Lemon Because of Possible Health Risk
https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/wegmans-food-markets-inc-announces-recall-select-valencia-oranges-lemons-and-various-products
Summary
Company Announcement Date:
August 09, 2020
FDA Publish Date:
August 09, 2020
Product Type:
Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:
Potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.
Brand Name:
Wegmans
Product Description:
Valencia Oranges, two-pound bag of lemons, bulk lemons, and a variety of in-store produced seafood and restaurant foods items that contain fresh lemon
Company Announcement
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is recalling its four-pound bag of Valencia Oranges, two-pound bag of lemons, bulk lemons, and a variety of in-store produced seafood and restaurant foods items that contain fresh lemon because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, 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, Listeriaem> infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
The affected products were sold in Wegmans stores in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, and Brooklyn and Harrison, NY.
Affected produce items, sold between July 31 and August 7, 2020, include:
Wegmans 4lb Bag Valencia Oranges – UPC: 7789052363
Wegmans 2lb Bag Lemons – UPC: 7789015917
Wegmans bulk lemons – UPC: 4033
The lemons and oranges were supplied to Wegmans by Freshouse Produce LLC of Salisbury, NC, which issued a voluntary recall after the company’s internal testing identified Listeria monocytogenes on a piece of equipment in one of its packing facilities. No illnesses associated with this recall have been reported to Wegmans or its supplier.
Wegmans has placed automated phone calls to alert customers who purchased these products using Shoppers Club.
Customers should return these products to the service desk for a full refund. Those with questions may contact Wegmans Food Markets 1-855-934-3663 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. or Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
###
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is a 103-store supermarket chain with stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts and North Carolina. The family company, recognized as an industry leader and innovator, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016. Wegmans has been named one of the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ by FORTUNE magazine for 23 consecutive years, ranking #3 in 2020. The company was also ranked #1 for corporate reputation among the 100 most visible companies, according to the 2019 Harris Poll Reputation Quotient® study.
No comments:
Post a Comment