Major veg and fruit recall

[JLJ_]

I don't want to do a "sky is falling" thing, and many of you may already be aware of this . . . but I became aware this morning that there had been a major frozen veg recall, beginning about a month ago, and became aware only because I happened to mention to a grocery store employee that I'd noticed that they were out of a couple of items that they usually carry. They said they'd had a recall of quite a few items, I came home and looked online for that grocery chain and for general info and . . . another listeria-caused recall, a big one.

I thought that many here are like us -- produce most of our veg, but are still probably more likely to buy frozen veg than the average consumer might be, especially this time of year, because it's the kind of thing we like to eat. Put it here as I thought it should be in a section open to everyone.

As most of you probably know, this is especially dangerous for very young or ver old/pregnant/compromised immune system folks, but can be life threatening for anyone.

Summary of the big recall I was looking for is on this page

http://www.foodsafety.gov/recalls/recent/listeria.html

Says, in part, that everything processed by a particular facility within the past two years has been recalled:

"On May 2, 2016, CRF Frozen Foods recalled all organic and traditional frozen vegetable and fruit products processed in its Pasco, Washington facility since May 1, 2014. Due to this recall, many other companies have recalled hundreds of other products sold under dozens of brand names. "

There's lots more elsewhere online about it. I've seen several articles that had lists of affected stores that were only a fragment of those actually involved, so it's probably wise to look specifically for info on anywhere you've been buying frozen fruits and veg. Because of the plant location, I suspect it's more of an issue in western US and Canada than in the east, but don't know for sure.

Here's a general page about food recalls

http://www.foodsafety.gov/recalls/recent/

This is a fairly good FDA pdf summarizing basic info about listeria

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/Fo.../UCM079778.pdf

I'm not sure why they don't put more on those pages explaining that cooking sufficiently does kill this varmint, so is a good precautionary measure -- perhaps because they fear that so many people have become accustomed to cooking styles that *don't* cook sufficiently to kill it. If you look around the internet you can find competent discussions that will give you the information about cooking methods, temperatures, and times that will reduce chances of problems with this, even if you do unknowingly get some affected food.

Lots of incompetent info around, too, and not just online. I saw one page where someone who knew they'd been exposed to listeria, and who had symptoms, went to an urgent care center and was told they couldn't be at risk because freezing kills listeria. :::sigh:::

[oakley]

I get the e-mail alerts. I do see an attempt to explain the dangers but most seem to ignore it. Not realizing it can take 7-10 days and blame it on a '24-hr-flu'. Long term affects are also ignored.
Or the 'grandma says' advice that we are over-protecting ourselves with cleanliness. Though in the past our produce was seasonal and close to home, not mass produced and traveled so far. etc and many other factor come into play....

[Labradors2]

I heard about it and fortunately didn't buy those brands of frozen peas. I try to buy fresh veggies, and only keep a small packet of frozen for the rare occasion when I run out.

I have to wonder who on earth keeps frozen veggies for two years???? The nutritional value wouldn't be very high by then.......

Linda

[Stvrob]

Originally Posted by Labradors2

I heard about it and fortunately didn't buy those brands of frozen peas. I try to buy fresh veggies, and only keep a small packet of frozen for the rare occasion when I run out.

I have to wonder who on earth keeps frozen veggies for two years???? The nutritional value wouldn't be very high by then.......

Linda

Is that true? I thought frozen vegetables could be stored indefinitely?

[Labradors2]

Originally Posted by Stvrob

Is that true? I thought frozen vegetables could be stored indefinitely?

They can, but they lose their nutritional value as they age. I found one website that recommends eating them before they are 8 months old.

Linda

[Jeannine Anne]

I get the Canadian alerts which are often alerting about stuff from US plantsas well as Canadain. I was quite amazed at the number of recalls about frozen veg , many from Costco , we all tend to think of frozen as safe.

[Worth1]

I heard pork fat especially bacon fat kills listeria on contact.

Is this true?

Worth

[Hellmanns]

Originally Posted by Worth1

I heard pork fat especially bacon fat kills listeria on contact.

Is this true?

Worth

Yes, that's how I can sausage. 360 degree sausage drippings kills listeria on contact!

[Father'sDaughter]

I get the email alerts on all recalls from my local board of health. You can check your city or town's website to see if they offer a subscription option.

And if you have a pet, look for sites that let you subscribe to pet food recalls -- there are quite a few of these every year!

[Starlight]

Thanks for the notice. I hadn't heard about it. So hot here usually out the door in the garden before the big news comes on.