WFLA

Listeria concerns prompt vegetable recall from stores in Southeast

Sunde Farquhar

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – Fresh-cut vegetables are being recalled from grocery, discount and convenience stores across the Southeast because the food may be contaminated with potentially fatal Listeria bacteria.

Conroe, Texas-based Country Fresh Inc. said Friday that the recall involves its vegetable products shipped to retailers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

The vegetables carried the Country Fresh and store labels at Bi-Lo, Fresh Point, Harris Teeter, Publix, QuikTrip, Spinx, Walmart and Winn-Dixie stores. The recalled items had “best if used by” dates of Aug. 7 through 19.

Listeria can cause serious infections in the young or frail. Healthy people may suffer high fever, severe headache and other symptoms.

One person in Connecticut died during a four-state outbreak linked to frozen vegetables recalled earlier this year.The complete FDA announcement about the recall is below-Country Fresh, Inc.281-453-3305Announcement

August 26, 2016.  Country Fresh, LLC. of Conroe, Texas, is recalling 30,000 cases of various fresh-cut vegetable products (product descriptions attached), 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, Listeriainfection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The product in question was shipped to retailers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia under the Country Fresh and store brand labels described in the product listing.

The product bears “BEST IF USED BY” dates between August 7, 2016 (8/7/16) through August 19, 2016 (8/19/16).  The product is in either a clear plastic container as labeled below or in Styrofoam trays overwrapped with clear plastic film as labeled below.  No products except those on this list are subject to this recall.

To date, no illnesses have been confirmed by public health authorities.

“We are treating this incident very seriously because we want to ensure that our customers are provided with only the safest, most wholesome, and high-quality products available,” said Max Payen, Country Fresh’s Director of Food Safety.  The potential for contamination was uncovered as the result of a single routine sample taken at a retail store by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, which revealed the finished product tested positive for the bacteria.  The company has ceased distribution of the affected product as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Country Fresh continue their investigation as to what caused the problem.  This recall is being undertaken with the knowledge of the FDA.

Consumers who have purchased any of these products are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 281-453-3305, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. CDT.

The list of products subject to this recall follows:

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