Fresh Food Concepts is recalling several of its dip layer products containing guacamole because the avocado could be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes, a food poisoning bacteria.
Listeria is normally a mild illness, causing diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, chills, muscle pain, and a fever. Symptoms usually go away after three days and don’t need medical treatment. Most people recover on their own.
Sometimes babies, the elderly and people with immune system disorders can get a more severe type of listeria, called invasive listeriosis. This occurs when the infection spreads to other parts of your body and causes complications such as blood poisoning and meningitis.
Pregnant mothers are also in a high risk category as it can cause miscarriage, premature delivery and serious illness in a newborn.
Listeria can occur if you don’t cook food thoroughly enough. Foods most likely to be infected are raw dairy products, soft cheeses, pates and smoked fish (unless it is canned), pre-packaged sandwiches, and food that has been pre-cooked and stored in the fridge. This is because listeria can survive in cold temperatures.
You can reduce the risk of food poisoning by:
• Washing your hands before food preparation and after going to the toilet or changing a baby’s diaper
• Washing any raw food before preparing it
• Keeping the kitchen and cooking items clean
• Not storing raw meat next to ready to eat food
• Make sure you thoroughly cook food through
• Don’t eat food after the sell by date
• If you are pregnant or have a compromised immune system, don’t have raw milk, soft cheeses or under-cooked foods.
The affected products are:
Fresh foods concept 5 layer dip, 32oz (UPC code 29358-11272).
Delioso 5 layer dip, 15oz (UPC code 29358-12229).
Delicioso 5 Layer Dip, 30oz (UPC code 29358-12230).
Rojo’s Ultimate 7 Layer Dip, 36 oz (UPC code 35196-44162).
Fresh Food Concepts 5 Layer Dip, 16 oz (UPC code 35196-44216).
Rojo’s Supreme 6 Layer Dip, 44 oz ( UPC code 47502-44180).
Rojo’s 6 Layer Dip, 44oz ( UPC code 47502-44185).
Rojo’s 6 Layer Dip, 44 oz (UPC code 47502-44189).
Fresh Food Concepts 5 Layer Dip, 454 g, (UPC code 35196-44214).
Signature Café 6 Layer Dip, 15 oz (UPC code 21130-06191).
Signature Café 6 Layer Dip, 30 oz (UPC code 21130-06192).
Signature Café 6 Layer Dip, 425 g (UPC code 58200-06034).
Signature Café 6 Layer Dip, 850 g (UPC code 58200-06032).
Products with expiration dates USE BY 09/24/11 and AFTER are made with avocado from a different source and are NOT involved in this recall.
No other products made by Fresh Food Concepts are involved in this recall.
Customers with any of the affected products are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Sources:
Listeriosis - NHS Choices, NHS Choices - Your health, your choices, Web. 15th August 2011.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Listeriosis/Pages/Introduction.aspx,
HPA - Listeria, HPA - Health Protection Agency Homepage. Web. 15th August 2011.
http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/Listeria/
FRESH FOOD CONCEPTS, INC, U S Food and Drug Administration Home Page. Web. 15th August 2011.
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm267933.htm.
Reviewed August 15, 2011
by Michele Blacksberg R.N.
Edited by Jody Smith