• $15 an hour! Homosexuals! COSTCO-KIRKLAND! FDA Investigates Listeria Ou

    From *Social Justice*@21:1/5 to All on Fri May 13 06:43:01 2016
    XPost: alt.food.safety, alt.business.marketeplace

    May 4, 2016
    On this page:

    What is the Problem and What is being Done About It?
    What are the Symptoms of Listeriosis?
    Who is at Risk?
    What Specific Products were Recalled?
    What Do Restaurants and Retailers Need To Do?
    What Do Consumers Need To Do?
    Who Should be Contacted?
    Additional Information

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration along with the Centers for
    Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local
    officials are investigating listeriosis linked to frozen
    vegetables.

    What is the Problem and What is Being Done About It?

    The FDA, CDC and state and local officials are investigating a
    multi-state outbreak of listeriosis identified in March 2016.

    The CDC reports that eight people infected with the outbreak
    strains of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from three
    states (California, Maryland and Washington) from September 2013
    – March 2016. Ill people ranged in age from 56 to 86, with a
    median age of 76. Epidemiology and laboratory evidence available
    at this time indicates that frozen vegetables produced by CRF
    Frozen Foods of Pasco, Washington, and sold under various brand
    names are one likely source of illnesses in this outbreak. As
    discussed further below, CRF Frozen Foods has initiated a recall
    of certain products.

    As part of a routine product sampling program the Ohio
    Department of Agriculture collected packages of frozen vegetable
    products from a retail location and isolated Listeria
    monocytogenes from True Goodness by Meijer brand frozen organic
    white sweet cut corn and frozen organic petite green peas. Both
    products were produced by CRF Frozen Foods.

    Whole genome sequencing showed that the Listeria monocytogenes
    isolate from the frozen corn was closely related genetically to
    seven bacterial isolates from ill people, and the Listeria
    monocytogenes isolate from the frozen peas was closely related
    genetically to one isolate from an ill person. This close
    genetic relationship provides additional evidence that the
    people in this outbreak became ill from eating frozen vegetables
    produced by CRF Frozen Foods.

    Based on the positive findings by the Ohio Department of
    Agriculture, on April 22, 2016, CRF recalled 11 frozen vegetable
    products because they may be contaminated with Listeria
    monocytogenes. On May 2, 2016, following a conversation between
    FDA, CDC and the firm, CRF Frozen Foods expanded its recall to
    include all of its frozen organic and traditional fruit and
    vegetable products manufactured or processed in CRF Frozen
    Foods’ Pasco facility since May 1, 2014. Approximately 358
    consumer products sold under 42 separate brands were recalled.

    Additionally, March 2016 environmental samples collected by FDA
    from Oregon Potato Company, located in Pasco, WA, were found to
    be closely related genetically to seven of the isolates of ill
    people associated with this outbreak. Based on this information,
    Oregon Potato Company voluntarily recalled wholesale onion
    products, which led to subsequent downstream customer recalls,
    one disclaimer icon of which publicly disclosed Oregon Potato
    Company as its product source. FDA is working to identify other
    parts of the relevant supply chain that may have product
    relating to this outbreak. However, FDA is prohibited by law
    from releasing publicly certain information about supply chains,
    which may constitute confidential commercial information.

    FDA will continue to investigate to determine what, if any,
    connection exists between the product sample isolates and the
    environmental samples. This is a complex and ongoing
    investigation, and updates will be communicated as they become
    available.

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    What are the Symptoms of Listeriosis?

    Listeriosis is a rare but serious illness usually caused by
    eating food contaminated with the bacteria called Listeria
    monocytogenes. Anyone who experiences fever and muscle aches,
    sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal
    symptoms, or develops fever and chills while pregnant after
    eating any of the products listed below should seek medical care
    and tell the health care provider about eating the potentially
    contaminated frozen vegetables. Symptoms can appear from a few
    days up to a few weeks after consumption of the contaminated
    food.

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    Who is at Risk?

    Listeriosis can be fatal, especially in certain high-risk
    groups. These groups include the elderly, and people with
    weakened immune systems and certain chronic medical conditions
    (such as cancer). In pregnant women, listeriosis can cause
    miscarriage, stillbirth, premature labor, and serious illness or
    death in newborn babies.

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    What Specific Products were Recalled?

    On April 22, 2016, CRF Frozen Foods recalled 11 frozen vegetable
    products because they may be contaminated with Listeria. On May
    2, 2016, CRF Frozen Foods expanded its recall to include all
    frozen organic and traditional fruit and vegetable products
    manufactured or processed in CRF Frozen Foods’ Pasco facility
    since May 1, 2014. Products have best by dates of April 26,
    2016, thru April 26, 2018, and may have been purchased in all
    fifty U.S. states and the following Canadian Provinces: British
    Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan.

    Refer to FDA’s Recall Notice for the full list of CRF Frozen
    Foods that were recalled.

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    What Do Restaurants and Retailers Need To Do?

    Retailers and restaurants should not serve any of the recalled
    products and should dispose of them. If they do not know the
    source of their frozen vegetable products, they should check
    with the supplier.

    Wash and sanitize display cases and refrigerators where
    potentially contaminated products were stored.

    Wash and sanitize cutting boards, surfaces, and utensils used to
    cut, serve, or store potentially contaminated products.

    Wash hands with warm water and soap following the cleaning and
    sanitation process.

    Retailers, restaurants, and other food service operators who
    have processed and packaged any potentially contaminated
    products need to be concerned about cross contamination of
    cutting surfaces and utensils through contact with the
    potentially contaminated products.

    Regular frequent cleaning and sanitizing of cutting boards and
    utensils used in processing may help to minimize the likelihood
    of cross-contamination.

    Listeria can grow at refrigeration temperatures in foods.
    Listeria can also cross contaminate other food cut and served on
    the same cutting board or stored in the same area.

    Retailers, restaurants, and other food service operators may
    wish to consider whether other foods available for sale could
    have been cross-contaminated from the potentially contaminated
    products, and should be discarded.

    Firms who have re-labeled, re-packed, or used the recalled
    products to produce new products that have not received a
    thermal kill step should contact the FDA Recall Coordinator in
    your state to determine whether or not you should initiate a new
    recall of your product(s). FDA District Recall Coordinators for
    each state are listed at:
    http://www.fda.gov/Safety/
    Recalls/IndustryGuidance/ucm129334.htm).

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    What Do Consumers Need To Do?

    The FDA urges consumers to not eat any of the recalled products
    and to check their homes for the recalled fruit and frozen
    vegetable products. CRF Frozen Foods directs any consumers who
    have purchased any of the recalled products to return them to
    the place of purchase for a full refund, or discard them.

    Further, for frozen foods not listed in the recall, consumers
    should thoroughly cook them and follow microwave or conventional
    oven cooking instructions found on the package. Only thorough
    cooking will kill bacteria that can cause foodborne illness.

    Consumers should follow these simple steps:

    Wash hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds
    before and after handling food.
    Wash the inside walls and shelves of the refrigerator, cutting
    boards and countertops; then sanitize them with a solution of
    one tablespoon of chlorine bleach to one gallon of hot water;
    then dry with a clean cloth or paper towel that has not been
    previously used.
    Wipe up spills in the refrigerator immediately and clean the
    refrigerator regularly.
    Always wash hands with warm water and soap following the
    cleaning and sanitization process.
    Additional recommendations for preventing listeriosis are
    available at the CDC Listeria website: http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/prevention.html.
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    Who Should be Contacted?

    Consumers who have questions about the CRF Frozen Foods recall
    may call the company’s consumer hotline at 844-483-3866, Monday
    through Friday, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.

    The FDA also encourages consumers with questions about food
    safety to call 1-888-SAFEFOOD Monday through Friday between 10
    a.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern time, or to consult the fda.gov website: http://www.fda.gov.
     
    http://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/uc
    m499157.htm
     

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