Listeria Recall: Kroger, Dutch Farms and Parkers Farm Cheese, Salsa and Peanut Butter

Listeria contamination has resulted in the recall of a large number of products by Parkers Farm, including salsa, cheese spreads, peanut butter and bagel spreads sold under a variety of labels, including Kroger, Happy Farms, Central Markets and Dutch Farms. Consuming products contaminated with listeria monocytogenes can lead to severe and potentially fatal food poisoning.

The listeria recall was posted by the FDA on Monday, after sampling by Wisconsin and Minnesota inspectors discovered the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria in finished Parkers Farm, Inc. products. Although there have been no reported illnesses in connection to the food recall, exposure to the bacteria could cause mild to severe infection of the gastrointestinal tract, with a risk of death if the infection spreads via the bloodstream to the nervous system.

Listeria infections, also known as listeriosis, pose a particular risk for children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. For pregnant women, illness from Listeria bacteria can cause miscarriages and still births. The fatality rate associated with listeriosis is about 25%.

Blood tests are usually required to diagnose Listeriosis, which can be treated with antibiotics. Symptoms of Listeriosis include muscle aches, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, severe headaches and fever. If the bacteria spreads from the intestines to the bloodstream and nervous system, it could cause meningitis and other complications.

The Parkers Farm recall affects the following Parkers Farm or Parkers label products:

• 16 ounce peanut butter in square plastic tubs with snap on lids, in creamy, crunchy, honey creamy and honey crunchy varieties, with sell by dates between 11/14/2010 and 12/31/2010.
• 34 ounce peanut butter in round plastic tubs with snap on lids, in creamy and crunchy varieties with sell by dates between 8/11/2010 and 9/30/2010.
• 7 ounce bagel spreads in white plastic tubs with snap on lids in garden veggie, wild berry, strawberry, apple cinnamon and honey walnut varieties with sell by dates between 5/13/2010 and 6/30/2010.
• 14 ounce dips and spreads in square plastic tubs with snap on lids in jalapeño nacho, pimento and salsa con queso varieties with sell by dates between 8/11/2010 and 9/30/2010.
• 8 ounce, 12 ounce, and 16 ounce cold pack cheese in round or square plastic tubs with snap on lids in sharp cheddar, bacon, onion, smoked cheddar, Swiss almond, horseradish, garlic, port wine and Swiss and cheddar varieties with sell by dates between 11/14/2010 and 12/31/2010.
• 16 ounce salsa in square plastic tubs with snap on lids in the hot, mild, garlic, black bean and fire roasted varieties with sell by dates between 3/14/2010 and 4/30/2010.

Products under other labels affected by the recall include:

• 16 ounce Happy Farms cold pack cheese in round plastic tubs with snap on lids in sharp cheddar, port wine and Swiss almond varieties with sell by dates between 11/24/2010 and 12/10/2010.
• 8 ounce Kroger cold pack cheese in round plastic tubs with snap on lids in sharp cheddar, port wine and Swiss almond varieties with sell by dates between 11/18/2010 and 12/15/2010.
• 8 ounce Central Markets cold pack cheese in round plastic tubs with snap on lids in sharp cheddar, port wine, Swiss almond and horseradish varieties with sell by dates of 12/9/2010.
• 14 ounce Central Markets salsa con queso in round plastic tubs with snap on lids with sell by dates of 8/16/2010.
• 16 ounce Central Markets salsa in round plastic tubs with snap on lids in sharp cheddar, port wine, Swiss almond, horseradish and Swiss and cheddar varieties with sell by dates between 3/17/2010 and 3/24/2010.
• 8 ounce Dutch Farms cold pack cheese in round plastic tubs with snap on lids in the sharp cheddar, port wine, Swiss almond horseradish and Swiss and cheddar varieties with sell by dates between 11/16/2010 and 11/18/2010.

The sell by dates on all of the products are printed on the containers about ½ inch from the top. The products were sold at a variety of retail stores nationwide, including Target, Whole Foods, Sams Club, Costco, Safeway, Hy-Vee, Cub, Rainbow, Byerlys Lunds, Jewel, Dominicks, Marsh, Price Chopper, Shop Rite, and Nash Finch.

The FDA recommends that anyone who has purchased these products should return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.