Frozen Food Recall Highlights Danger Hidden in Freezers Throughout U.S.

Amid a recall of nearly 50 million pounds of frozen fruits and vegetables sold over the last two years, which may be contaminated with listeria bacteria, federal health officials are concerned that most consumers will fail to check their freezers and discard the recalled products, potentially causing individuals to suffer food poisoning for months and years. 

Health officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are encouraging consumers to check their freezers to see if they have any products affected by the expanded CRF Frozen Fruit and Vegetable recall, and throw them out.

The recalled frozen foods have been linked to a multi-state listeria outbreak that has hospitalized at least eight individuals, and may have contributed to the death of two people.

The frozen food recall that was initially announced on April 22, covering 11 frozen vegetable products. However, it was massively expanded on May 2, after an investigation by the FDA and the CDC discovered the listeria outbreak could have contaminated well over 400 products sold nationwide under dozens of brand names to major retailers such as Costco, Target, Trader Joe’s and Safeway, among others.

The recall has grown into one of the largest in recent history, with an estimated 47 million pounds of product with long shelf lives being recalled. With products being recalled as far back as May 1, 2014, officials are concerned these products have become buried in consumer’s freezers and may not be discarded, potentially allowing them to consume them at a later date. Authorities have claimed since the vegetables are typically cooked before eating, it may be killing the bacteria which would explain the low rate of reported illnesses.

CRF Frozen Foods of Pasco, Washington has been identified by the FDA and CDC as the original source of the outbreak, however the cause of the outbreak has not yet been identified. Two weeks ago, the company voluntarily shut down its production plant in Washington to cooperate with federal health investigators to identify and correct the source of the contamination.

During an inspection of the Washington plant on March 17, officials from the FDA identified in the report multiple health violations in regards to production material. Specifically, the report states “The materials and workmanship of the equipment and utensils does not allow proper cleaning and maintenance.” The FDA’s report indicated the inspectors spotted several chipped and cracked pieces of plastic on parts of equipment that contact food, posing dangers of foreign objects entering the food.

With only eight reported illnesses stemming from nearly 50 million pounds of potentially contaminated products, the CDC anticipates receiving additional injury reports. To date, illnesses have been reported in California, Maryland and Washington. The two deaths occurred in Maryland and Washington, however, officials reported the listeria infection was not the sole cause of death, but a contributing factor in both cases.

Listeria food poisoning can cause serious health consequences and death, especially for children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. The FDA considers listeria infections one of the more dangerous foodborne illnesses. Listeriosis frequently results in hospitalizations and kills about a quarter of its victims.

Symptoms of listeria infections may include nausea, muscle ache, diarrhea, fever, and fatigue. In severe cases for the elderly and young children, the bacteria can spread through the bloodstream to the nervous system resulting in sometimes fatal infections. For pregnant women, listeriosis can pose a risk of miscarriages, still births, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn.