If you’ve purchased frozen fruits and vegetables from basically any major grocery chain in the past two years, you’ll want to sit down for this one.
CRF Frozen Foods, a food packaging company in Pasco, WA, has recently expanded its voluntary recall to include nearly 360 varieties of frozen fruits and vegetables.
The reason: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced an outbreak of the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, which has hospitalized eight people across three states: Maryland, Washington, and California.
Frozen Food Recall: Check Your Freezer
CRF Frozen Foods packages brands that are sold at popular grocery stores in all 50 US states and parts of Canada. The recall also encompasses both organic and non-organic varieties of fruits and vegetables.
According to a press release by CRF, “All affected products have the best by dates or sell by dates between April 26, 2016 and April 26, 2018.” Because most frozen foods have a two-year shelf life, the affected foods include CRF products manufactured since May 1, 2014. Products include the following:
- Organic and non-organic broccoli
- Butternut squash
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Corn
- Edamame
- Green beans
- Kale
- Onions
- Peas
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Sweet potatoes
- Various vegetable medleys
- Stir fry packages
- Blueberries
- Peaches
- Strawberries
Click here for a full list of recalled brands and products. You’ll recognize some of the brands on the recall list, which includes popular varieties like Safeway Kitchens, Signature Kitchens, Trader Joe’s brand, Pantry Essentials, and O Organics.
As of April 25, 2016, CRF has suspended operations at its Pasco facility, pending a thorough safety review.
Frozen Food Recall And Listeriosis
Why exactly are these products being recalled? They’re potentially contaminated by listeria, which is commonly found in soil and water. According to the CDC, “animals can carry the bacterium without appearing ill and can contaminate foods of animal origin, such as meats and dairy products.”
What Is Listeria?
Listeria is transmitted to humans through the consumption of contaminated food, which is why this frozen food recall is so huge. When the CDC announced the outbreak, the Ohio Agriculture Department was testing packages of frozen vegetables as part of its routine product-sampling program. The department found listeria that was genetically related to the strains in ill patients, which gave the CDC a concrete link to CRF.
Listeria Outbreak Leads To Listeriosis
How does listeria affect humans? Listeria leads to listeriosis, a serious infection that can be deadly for pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and adults with weakened immune systems. Its symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and sometimes diarrhea. When the bacteria spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract, symptoms can include a headache, stiff neck, loss of balance, and convulsions.
Listeriosis is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, as it can lead to “miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn,” the CDC reports.
How To Avoid Food Recalls
If you really don’t want to throw out your frozen food, note that listeria can be killed by heating foods at temperatures higher than 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Since water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit, you can dunk your foods for a while on high, or consider roasting, baking, or grilling.
And if you really don’t want to deal with food recalls in general, consider the alternatives to purchasing store-bought foods: sustainable home gardening and aquaponics.
Vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, snap peas, squash, and potatoes are hardy and forgiving to even the most novice home gardener, and herbs like basil and cilantro can grow in almost any climate. Even if you don’t want to grow every fruit and vegetable on your own, a small home garden that features some basics — like cucumbers or carrots — can go a long way.
Do you have a home garden? What do you think about this frozen food recall? Let us know in the comments!
Update: Quaker Oats Co. Announces Recall
On Monday, the Quaker Oats Co. announced a voluntary recall of a quantity of Quaker Quinoa Granola bars.
An ingredient supplier was found to have distributed sunflower kernels that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the same bacteria found in frozen fruits and vegetables from CRF Frozen Foods.
Quaker is recalling a portion of their Quinoa Granola Bars out of “an abundance of caution,” as there have not been any confirmed illnesses in connection to the product. Here’s what you need to know about the recalled granola bars:
- 6.1 ounce boxes of Quaker Quinoa Granola Bars Chocolate Nut Medley with UPC number 30000 32241 and Best Before Dates of: 10/16/2016, 10/17/2016
- 6.1 ounce boxes of Quaker Quinoa Granola Bars Yogurt, Fruit & Nut with UPC number 30000 32243 and Best Before Dates of: 10/10/2016, 10/11/2016
Follow this page for updates as the story develops.
Rebecca writes about green technology, sustainability, and big ideas. She graduated from the University of California, Riverside with a degree in Creative Writing. She lives in sunny San Diego. Follow her on Twitter at @beccawriteswhat.
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