NJ CEA Farm Recalls Spinach After State Lab Finds Listeria

BrightFarms has issued a voluntary recall of spinach grown by its supplier Element Farms in their Pompton Plains, New Jersey farm and distributed under the BrightFarms brand because the spinach has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Due to potential cross-contamination, BrightFarms is also issuing a voluntary recall of a limited quantity of four salad kit products (shown below) from its Selinsgrove, PA facility.  The recall of spinach was initiated after routine sampling conducted by Element Farms yielded a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes. Due to potential cross-contamination at BrightFarms’s Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania facility, BrightFarms is also recalling a limited quantity of four select salad kit products. No positive test results or reported illness have been received on those products, to date.  As a result of today’s recall, the company has temporarily suspended distribution of Element Farms grown spinach.

This product is grown as under CEA, or Controlled Environmental Agriculture.  From the Element Farms website, the company "is a sustainable farm based in Lafayette, NJ." They  grow the " greens hydroponically  and without pesticides in a controlled-agriculture environment".  The "greens start out in a sterile soil/peat moss and then are moved to large ponds of ultra-filtered water to grow hydroponically".

Interesting is this from the website:
Do I need to wash your greens?

No. Our greens are grown indoors without pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides, and away from the outdoor contaminants that plague field farmers. We personally don’t wash our greens before eating--that’s another benefit to growing them in an ultra-pure environment--but you’re always welcome to. We don’t pre-wash our greens so they stay as fresh as can be in your clamshell.
A note on other brands’ triple-washed greens: triple-washed greens are most often washed in a chlorine solution and should be washed again at home before eating."

The question here is how did Listeria get into the production system.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/brightfarms-recalls-spinach-and-salad-kits-because-possible-health-risk-result-supplier-element
Brightfarms Recalls Spinach and Salad Kits Because of Possible Health Risk as a Result of Supplier Element Farms Recall
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  January 17, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  January 17, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Foodborne Illness-Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  BrightFarms
Brand Name:  BrightFarms
Product Description:  Spinach and Salad Kits

Company Announcement

Selinsgrove, PA (January 17, 2024) –– BrightFarms has issued a voluntary recall of spinach grown by its supplier Element Farms in their Pompton Plains, New Jersey farm and distributed under the BrightFarms brand because the spinach has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Due to potential cross-contamination, BrightFarms is also issuing a voluntary recall of a limited quantity of four salad kit products (shown below) from its Selinsgrove, PA facility.

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 miscarriage and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The recalled products were distributed to retailers in seven states including Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The products come in 4-oz, clear, plastic containers. Information about the “best by” date, UPC, and facility code can be found at the bottom of the package. Pictures to assist customers in identifying the recalled products are found at the end of this announcement.

Product Ounce UPC Codes Facility  Code Best-By Date
BrightFarms Baby Spinach 3.5oz 8-57062-00492-3 PEN8 1/11/2024,
1/13/2024,
1/18/2024,
1/20/2024
BrightFarms Mediterranean
Crunch Kit 6.35oz 8-50051-82501-1 PEN4 1/15/2024,
1/20/2024
BrightFarms Chickpea Caesar
Crunch Kit 6.50oz 8-57062-00415-2 PEN4 1/15/2024,
1/20/2024
BrightFarms Bacon Ranch
Crunch Kit 6.70oz 8-57062-00416-9 PEN4 1/15/2024
BrightFarms Southwest
Chipotle 5.85oz 8-50051-82500-4 PEN4 1/15/2024

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recall of spinach was initiated after routine sampling conducted by Element Farms yielded a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes. Due to potential cross-contamination at BrightFarms’s Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania facility, BrightFarms is also recalling a limited quantity of four select salad kit products. No positive test results or reported illness have been received on those products, to date.

As a result of today’s recall, the company has temporarily suspended distribution of Element Farms grown spinach.

Retailers have been instructed to remove all recalled products from store shelves. Consumers who have purchased the affected products should not consume the products and discard them or present a photo of the product or receipt to their place of purchase for a full refund and then discard.

Consumers with questions are encouraged to call 1-866-857-8745 between 8:00am-6:00pm EDT or email info@brightfarms.com with the subject line: Recall.