Widespread Vegetable Recall Hits Safeway, Whole Foods, Meijers And Others Over Listeria Risk

A major vegetable supplier is recalling various products that were distributed throughout the United States and Canada, due to a potential risk that they may be contaminated with bacteria that causes listeria food poisoning. 

The Mann Packaging multi-state vegetable recall was announced by the FDA on October 19, after routine testing by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency identified listeria monocytogens. To date, the FDA has not received any reported illnesses in relation to the recall.

Included in the recall are various minimally processed vegetables and mixed vegetable products that were packaged and distributed by Mann Packing of Salinas, California to grocery and retailer chains across the United States and Canada.

The FDA indicates the products were sold under various brand labels, including Signature Farms, HEB, and Walmart, but were all packaged by the Mann Packing Company. The recalled items are marked with “Best If Used By” dates from October 11, 2017 through October 20, 2017. For a full list of the recalled items and UPC codes, please visit the FDA’s product recall list.

The recall affects a wide variety of vegetable products, such as cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and mied vegetable medleys. To date, the FDA is aware of the potentially contaminated products being distributed to at least eight states in the U.S. and various retailers and distributers in Canada.

Since Mann Packaging announced its recall, several major food chain retailers have released subsequent recalls including Wal-Mart, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods Market, Signature Farms, Meijer, Albertsons, Safeway, and Vons and Pak N’ Save and various other in at least eight states to prevent a multi-state outbreak.

Listeria is a food borne illness that can cause serious health consequences and can be fatal, especially for children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. The infection poses a significant threat to pregnant women, who may be at an increased risk for miscarriages or still-births.

The symptoms of listeria infection typically include nausea, muscle ache, diarrhea, fever, and fatigue. In severe case, listeria may become more life threatening when the infection moves through the bloodstream into the nervous system resulting in sometimes fatal infections.

Mann Packaging indicates that it is cooperating with local and federal officials in both the U.S. and Canada to have any and all potentially contaminated products removed from store shelves. Customers who are unsure if a certain product in included in the recall should refrain from consumption until verified.

Customers who believe they are in possession of the recalled vegetables should stop consuming the products immediately and contact Mann Packaging at their 24-hour consumer line at 888-470-2681 or visit them at veggiesmadeeasy.com/products.