Photo: jessicareeder, Flickr
You might want to think twice before tossing those sprouts in your salad. They're the latest packaged food product to be recalled for potential contamination.
Specialty Farms Organic Alfalfa Sprouts Blend (upc 509800108) and Specialty Farms Organic Sprout Salad (upc 8192400024) have been added to the list of sprout products recalled by Specialty Farms, Examiner.com reported. Both have a "best if sold by" date of 8/03/10. The sprouts are being recalled for potential Lysteria Monocytogenes contamination.
Listeria can be especially harmful to children, the elderly and pregnant women as it can cause miscarriage and stillbirth. Symptoms include headache, fever, abdominal pain, stiffness, vomiting and diarrhea.
Specialty Farms issued the voluntary recall on July 29, 2010 after lab tests showed positive results from retail samples. No illnesses have been reported, the FDA said in a statement. The company is working to determine the source of the potential contamination in its facilities and will be immediately remedying problems as they are identified, the agency said.
The recalled sprouts were shipped to the following states: Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Specialty Farms is also recalling the following Stop & Shop brand Nature's Promise sprouts with a "best if sold by" date of 8/1/10:
- Natures Promise Organic Alfalfa Sprouts (4 oz) upc 8826704741
- Natures Promise Organic Alfalfa Sprouts (8 oz) upc 8826704102
- Natures Promise Organic Zesty Sprouts (4 oz) upc 8826703903
Products with a "best if sold by" date of 8/4/10 or after are not affected by the recall.
Specialty Farms asks customers to return the recalled sprouts to the place of purchase for a full refund. Customers with questions can contact the company between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST at (203) 366-6919.
