According to News Week, Fresh Creative Foods, a division of Reser’s Fine Foods, Inc., has issued a recall of the Chicken Street Taco Meal Kit sold at Sprouts Farmers Market after finding traces of the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. This bacterium is known to cause serious foodborne illness.
Product Details
The affected products can be identified by UPC code 205916813991 and carry best-by dates ranging from September 2, 2024, to November 7, 2024. Consumers are advised not to consume the product and should dispose of it or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Cleaning Precautions for Consumers
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that consumers take extra precautions by thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces or containers that may have come into contact with the recalled products to prevent cross-contamination.
The Risks of Listeria Contamination
Listeria is particularly concerning as it can survive in low-temperature environments, such as refrigerators and freezers. Infected foods may not show any visible signs of contamination. As Michelle Anstey, a food safety expert with the National Sanitation Foundation, explained, “When contaminated food is handled, illness can spread through human touch and lack of sanitation.”
Symptoms of Listeria Infection
Symptoms of a listeria infection can vary in severity and may take days or weeks to appear. Common symptoms include fever, muscle aches, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
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Serious Infections and Health Complications
In more serious cases, individuals may experience headaches, a stiff neck, loss of balance, confusion, and convulsions. Severe infections may require hospitalization, particularly for those who are immunocompromised, pregnant women, young children, and older adults.
Prevalence of Listeria in the U.S.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that approximately 1,600 Americans contract listeriosis each year, leading to about 260 fatalities.
Listeria: A Leading Cause of Recalls
A study by Traceone, a regulatory compliance company, revealed that bacterial contamination, including Listeria, Salmonella, and E. coli, is the second-most-common reason for product recalls in the U.S., accounting for 21% of all recalls. Earlier this year, a major recall involved deli meats contaminated with listeria, leading to 59 hospitalizations and 10 deaths across 19 states.
If you experience any serious symptoms or suspect an infection, it is important to contact your healthcare provider immediately.
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