"listeria" news and stories

Lancaster foods has recalled fresh spinach in six states because some packages tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, Examiner.com reported.

The company is issuing the voluntary recall on spinach with "Best Enjoyed By" dates of June 19 through June 27, 2010, sold under the brand names Krisp-Pak, Lancaster Fresh, Giant, and America's Choice because they could be contaminated with the bacteria.

The bacteria was detected in a random sample test conducted by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture Food & Drug Protection Division (NCAGR) on Krisp-Pack brand spinach with the best enjoyed by dates of June 23, 2010, the company said in a statement.

The recall is for both retailers and consumers.

Gourmet Boutique has issued a recall of 286,000 lbs of deli luncheon meat for possible contamination by listeria. The meats were used in sandwich wraps and other ready-to-eat products. The USDA has classified this recall as Class I, "reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death," or what I would call "pretty damn serious."

The list of potentially affected wraps and other ready-to-eat products from the company are listed here.

[via: Consumerist]

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You're on vacation in Greece when your stomach gives a sudden lurch and you start to suspect that the grilled lamb you ate the night before might not have been as squeaky clean as you thought (this is not a scenario I've ever found myself in, but hey, it could happen). Instead of running out to a pharmacy for the local equivalent of Pepto-Bismol, head to the local cheese shop for a slab of raw milk feta.

According to Panagiotis Chanos, a researcher from the University of Lincoln, they've been able "to isolate lactic acid bacteria found in raw sheep milk from small farms in Macedonia, northern Greece. Several of these friendly bacteria naturally produce antibiotics that killed off dangerous food-poisoning bacteria like Listeria."

They are hoping to take this research and leverage it into new ways to fight Listeria, as it has been known to cause death in populations who have weakened immune systems.

[via The Grinder]

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This is a recall of bulk proportions.

Costco has issued a voluntary recall on 10,368 pounds of frozen Red Curry Chicken & Jasmine Rice from Discover Cuisine. The frozen food packages are suspected to be contaminated with Listeria. According to Costco, "Each package bears the Canadian establishment number 'Est. 302' inside the Canadian Food Inspection Agency mark of inspection as well as a 'Best By' date of '12 18 08.' The item number '2880' also appears by the UPC code on the package."

No illnesses have been reported yet, but Listeria can cause headaches, neck stiffness, and spontaneous abortions. Those people with weakened immune systems are most susceptible to infection.

So check your freezers, and if you'd like more information, call this number, provided by Costco: (800) 774-2678.

[via: Consumerist]

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Listeria is being blamed for the deaths of two elderly men in Massachusetts.

The listeria was traced to a Shrewsbury, MA company called Whittier Farms. Two other people have gotten sick. Authorities are telling customers to throw out all Whittier Farms products that they might have in their homes. The brand names included in the notice are Whittier, Balance Rock, Spring Brook, Maple, and Schultz.

Listeria is often found in products such as cold cuts and hot dogs but can be found elsewhere as well. Many of us eat some form of listeria every year but we're not affected by it.