Alert for Possible Listeria Contamination in Ready-to-Eat Meals
Government health and safety officials have sounded the alarm about the potential risk of Listeria contamination in certain ready-to-eat meals. These meals are typically sent directly to customers' homes and are intended to be a convenient option for busy individuals or families.
What's the Concern?
The issue comes after an announcement from the Food Safety and Inspection Service, a key agency within the national Department of Agriculture. They recently warned the public about an ingredient found in these meals that could potentially be tainted with the Listeria bacteria. This ingredient, a type of spinach, was originally supplied by Sno Pac Foods.
The meals in question are produced by FreshRealm and delivered by a popular meal delivery service. The company was alerted to the potential contamination after tests on the spinach showed positive results for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.
What Products are Affected?
Two specific meals have been identified as being potentially risky:
- A 10.1-ounce Cheesy Pulled Pork Pepper Pasta dish, labeled with either establishment number “Est. 47718” and lot code 49107, or establishment number “Est. 2937” and lot code 48840.
- A 10-ounce Unstuffed Peppers with Ground Turkey dish, labeled with establishment number “P-47718” and lot codes 50069, 50073, or 50698.
What Does This Mean for Consumers?
While the alert is mainly precautionary and there are not yet any confirmed cases of illness caused by these products, it is possible that more affected items will be identified. Therefore, consumers are urged to stay informed and check for updates regularly.
What is Listeria?
Listeria monocytogenes is a type of bacteria that can cause a serious infection called listeriosis. This illness primarily affects older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, sometimes preceded by gastrointestinal illness. If contracted during pregnancy, listeriosis can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or severe illness in newborns. Treatment typically involves a course of antibiotics.
What Should Consumers Do?
Consumers who have purchased these meals are advised not to consume them. They should either throw them away or return them to the place of purchase. If anyone has eaten these meals and feels unwell, they should seek medical attention promptly.
For any questions regarding this alert, customers are encouraged to reach out to the customer service of the meal delivery company involved. They can also get in touch with the national Meat and Poultry Hotline or lodge a complaint online via the Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System if they have any issues with meat, poultry, or egg products.