Specialty Farms is voluntarily recalling certain Alfalfa sprout products with a best if sold by date of “8/3/2010″ and “8/1/2010,” the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just announced.
The sprouts have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes (LM), a dangerous, sometimes deadly, organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, Lm infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
Specialty-Farms, LLC is voluntarily recalling Specialty Farms brand Organic Alfalfa Sprouts Blend and Organic Sprout Salad, four-ounce plastic containers, both have a best if sold by date of 8/3/2010 as noted below:
• Specialty Farms Organic Alfalfa Sprouts Blend: UPC 509800108
• Specialty Farms Organic Sprout Salad: UPC 8192400024
Specialty-Farms, LLC is also voluntarily recalling Stop & Shop brand Natures Promise Organic Alfalfa Sprouts in four-ounce containers and eight-ounce bags and Natures Promise Organic Zesty Sprouts in four-ounce containers with a best if sold by date of 8/1/2010, as noted below. [Further identification on the package includes Certified Organic by NOFA-NY, Certified Organic LLC.]:
• Natures Promise Organic Alfalfa Sprouts (4 oz): UPC 8826704741
• Natures Promise Organic Alfalfa Sprouts (8 oz): UPC 8826704102
• Natures Promise Organic Zesty Sprouts (4 oz): UPC 8826703903
The products were distributed through distributors and to retail stores in Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Specialty-Farms, LLC voluntarily recalled sprouts on July 29, 2010 after laboratory analysis found positive results from retail samples. No illnesses have been reported. All products dated 8/4/2010 and beyond are not included in this recall
Consumers who purchased these products are urged to return them to the point of purchase for refund and may contact Specialty-Farms, LLC with questions at (203) 366-6919 between 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time.
Meanwhile, last week we wrote that Specialty Farms voluntarily recalled its Alfalfa Sprouts Blend and Organic Sprout Salad because they may have the potential to be contaminated with Lm. The prior recalled products have a sell-by date of 7/26/2010 and are net weight four-ounces in plastic containers and were distributed to Price Chopper (Retailer) and Cooseman’s NY (Distributor); Specialty Farms Organic Alfalfa Sprouts Blend with UPC 8192400108; and Specialty Farms Organic Sprout Salad with UPC 8192400024.
Because sprouts can become tainted prior to harvesting, when growing, the contagion cannot be washed away and actually colonizes within the food. Because sprouts are often eaten raw with no additional treatment, such as cooking, which eliminates bacteria, washing sprouts does not necessarily remove bacteria. Also, the conditions required for sprout growing are optimal for growing pathogens: Bacteria need the right temperature, nutrients, and water and sprouts grow in watery, warm environments, ideal for rapid bacterial growth.
