Fear Of Listeria Outbreak Prompted Country Fresh To Recall Pre-Cut Vegetables

Be wary of what you buy in the supermarket. A possible listeria outbreak is feared again and this time, pre-cut vegetables are being recalled from Walmart, Publix and Winn Dixie stores.

As per U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Texas company Country Fresh LLC has distributed possibly contaminated 30,000 cases of 45 different pre-cut vegetables in Walmart, Publix and Winn Dixie stores. The contaminated food was already delivered to Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

These products were found to be positive for bacteria when a single routine sample was taken at a retail store by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The company coordinated with FDA right away to investigate where the bacteria from. They also immediately recalled all the pre-cut vegetable products in Walmart, Publix and Winn Dixie stores because it wants to only provide safe food to its customers, even though no incidents of listeria or illnesses have been reported yet.

Take note that these pre-cut vegetables are packaged in a clear plastic container or in a Styrofoam tray wrapped with clear plastic film. The label says it can be consumed from August 7, 2016 to August 19, 2016. If you purchased any of the 45 pre-cut vegetable products listed here, return it to the Walmart, Publix or Winn Dixie store you bought it from and get a full refund.

According to About-Listeria.com, persons who acquire the listeria infection are diagnosed with Listeriosis. Listeriosis is characterized with sudden onset of fever, chills, severe headache, vomiting and influenza-type symptoms. Listeria can either lead to a mild or quite severe illness.

As per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most recent listeria outbreak reported has infected nine people in four states since September 13, 2013. All were hospitalized and among them, three died--one because of listeria and the two were from other causes. The source of the outbreak was 11 frozen vegetable products from CRF Frozen Foods of Pasco that have been recalled on April 23 of this year.

The coverage of the recall was expanded last May to include all organic and traditional frozen vegetable and fruit products processed in Pasco, Washington facility since 2014. This listeria case, unlike the Country Fresh recall, has already finished investigation.

For more questions about the Country Fresh recall, contact the company at 281-453-3305. The office is open from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

With these recent recalling of products, how do you think can groceries still assure buyers of the safety of the food that they sell? Sound off your thoughts in the Comments section and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates.