[profileleft]
[/profileleft]American consumers have come to expect that the frozen foods they purchase will be reasonably safe. Several different laws and legal standards are in place to protect consumers both on the federal and state levels. Despite all of these safeguards, problems still arise in the form of contamination that put people in serious danger. This could be happening again as concern regarding a potential listeria outbreak has prompted an enormous recall of frozen foods sold by several large retailers across the United States.
The Listeria Recall – What You Need to Know
A company known as CRF Frozen Foods initiated the recall and has now expanded it because of growing concerns about a potential listeria outbreak. To date, eight cases of listeria have been diagnosed that could be tied to consumption of the frozen foods in question. An initial recall began on April 15 that concerned only frozen vegetables. The company has now expanded that recall to include products such as frozen sweet potatoes, blueberries among other products. These frozen foods were packaged over the past two years and were sold under brand names that include:
- Bybee’s
- Columbia River
- Organic
- Organic By Nature
- Wild Oats
These frozen foods were sold at retailers that include:
- Trader Joe’s
- Costco
- Safeway
- Walmart
The lists above are not exhaustive. For a more detailed look at what to watch out for, see the information below.
The Listeria Recall – The Specifics
The first step that everyone who could be affected by this problem should take is to check your freezers for any of the products at issue so that they can avoid becoming part of any possible listeria outbreak as a result of eating them. The FDA has gotten involved by publishing a complete list of the foods that have been recalled. A link to that full list can be found here.
All of the affected products have been manufactured and processed by CRF Frozen Foods since May 1, 2014. All of the “best by” dates on the products affected are between April 26, 2016 and April 26, 2018. 358 separate products sold under 42 brand names have been affected. We strongly encourage anyone who is unsure of whether or not they possess any products affected by this listeria recall to click the link above and thoroughly check their inventories.
Listeria – What Is It?
Listeria is a genus of bacteria that can lead to listeriosis if it penetrates the human body. One of the more common ways that this happens is via food that is contaminated with the bacteria. Listeriosis is a very dangerous condition that can be fatal in some patients. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, listeriosis primarily affects the following people:
- Older adults
- Pregnant women
- Newborns
- Adults with weakened immune systems
Others can be affected, though, so no one is immune to this dangerous condition.
There are several different symptoms of listeriosis. Common symptoms for people who are not pregnant include:
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Convulsions
- Fever
- Muscle aches
Symptoms of listeriosis commonly present in pregnant women include:
- Fatigue
- Aches
- Unwell feeling
Unfortunately, listeriosis symptoms in pregnant women are generally nonspecific and can easily be mistaken for common pregnancy challenges.
If you may have eaten any of the foods affected by this listeria recall and you are experiencing any of these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention for a full evaluation.
Listeria Outbreak Fallout
For those who have been harmed as a result of consuming any of these or other tainted foods, an immediate step after obtaining medical attention is to contact a defective products attorney as soon as possible to have all legal rights and options evaluated. If this includes you, contact the Gomez Trial Attorneys today to schedule a free initial consultation.
