Walmart issued a major recall of frozen pizza after its brand announced a potential listeria contamination.
The company issued the recall for its frozen pizzas sold under the Marketside brand – to be exact, 21,220 pounds of the brand’s extra large Supreme pizza were recalled. The food safety inspection Service detailed the recall on its website.
The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 1821” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail distribution centers in California, Nevada, Utah and Washington.
The problem was discovered during routine sampling by the firm. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.
Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.
Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.
FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers’ freezers.
The FSIS urged consumers not to eat the pizzas and instead throw it away.
In a similar incident, the FDA recalled a California company’s edamame due to similar concerns of listeria.
Advanced Fresh Concepts Franchise Corp. (“AFC”) of Rancho Dominguez, California is recalling its Edamame (Soybeans) – UPC 0-23012-00261-9, dated between 01/03/2017 and 03/17/2017 because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Contamination was discovered via random testing under AFC’s Quality Assurance Program.
Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or older adults, pregnant women, 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, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths and fetal infection among pregnant women. No illnesses have been reported to date.
AFC has notified all retail locations of the recall. Therefore, the product should no longer be available for purchase.
The products were packaged by AFC Franchisees and sold, under refrigeration, in 8.0 oz (227 g) packages and identified as “Edamame – Soybeans in Pods”. The packed Edamame was sold at designated retail sushi counters within grocery stores, cafeterias, and corporate dining centers in the following states: AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, ME, MI, MN, MS, NC, NH, NM, NY, OH, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, and WY.
Consumers concerned about whether the Edamame they purchased is subject to this recall should check with the store of purchase. Consumers who have purchased the recalled product should not consume it and return it to the point of purchase for a full refund.
A picture of the retail Edamame package is attached to the end of this release. The date code can be found on the face of the package.
Sources: Shared, Food Safety And Inspection Service, FDA / Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
