Thread: New Listeria Alert! Iceberg lettuce

Iceberg lettuce packages latest to be recalled for possible listeria

By Rick Wills, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Last updated: 11:41 am



Giant Eagle is recalling bags of shredded Iceberg lettuce because of possible contamination with listeria, at least the third produce item suspected in recent weeks nationwide.

The Food and Drug Administration informed Giant Eagle of the presence of listeria monocytogenes in a routine random sample test of Giant Eagle Farmer's Market 8-ounce package of Shredded Iceberg Lettuce, produced by River Ranch Fresh Foods LLC, of Salinas, Calif., with a use-by date of Oct. 14, 2011.

There are no reported cases of customer illness linked to consumption of this item, Giant Eagle officials said.

An outbreak of listeria in cantaloupes in recent weeks is now linked to 23 deaths â€" the deadliest known outbreak of foodborne illness in the U.S. in a quarter century. And last week, a California farm that issued a voluntary lettuce recall over listeria contamination concerns says its notice has gone out to 19 states, including Pennsylvania, and Canada.

Listeriosis, a serious infection usually caused by consumption of food contaminated with listeria, primarily affects older adults, pregnant women, newborns and adults with weakened immune systems, according to the Centers for Disease Control. A person with listeriosis usually has fever and muscle aches, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. Almost everyone who is diagnosed with listeriosis has "invasive" infection, in which the bacteria spread beyond the gastrointestinal tract.

The packaged product affected is
Giant Eagle Farmer's Market Shredded Iceberg Lettuce (UPC 3003430195).
Additionally, the shredded iceberg lettuce was used in a small number of prepared deli ring sandwiches. The affected deli ring sandwiches include:

Giant Eagle Large Italian Sandwich Ring (UPC 23755100000), Giant Eagle
Mini Italian Sandwich Ring (UPC 24755500000), Giant Eagle Large New
York Sandwich Ring (UPC 22755100000), Giant Eagle Mini New York Sandwich Ring (UPC 25755500000), Giant Eagle Large All America Sandwich Ring (UPC 21755100000), and Giant Eagle Mini All American Sandwich Ring (UPC 26755500000).

Giant Eagle implemented a register sale block to ensure that none of the product involved would be sold inadvertently. Giant Eagle also has removed all potentially affected products from its store shelves. Additionally, the company initiated a proactive telephone call to customers who purchased the products with instructions to dispose of the product or return it to the store for a refund.

Giant Eagle uses loyalty card purchase history data to contact customers who may be affected by food recalls with a health risk. Giant Eagle Advantage Card holders are encouraged to update contact information in the case of a recent change of mailing address or phone number. To communicate changes in contact information, customers may call 1-800-474-4777

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... 61666.html

I think that I am going to put food from California on my do not buy list along with all produce from Mexico.

It is just hard to believe how many of our foods have turned into poison in just a very short period of time.