Oct 28, 2013 11:07 AM EDT
Taylor Farms Recall: 5,000 Pounds Broccoli Salad Reportedly Contaminated With Listeria

Taylor Farms has recalled more than 5,000 pounds of broccoli salad kit products because of possible Listeria contamination, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said.

According to CNN, Taylor Farms is recalling approximately 5,084 pounds of salad kits products which contained dressing in packets that are the subject of a Food and Drug Administration recall.

The recall of Taylor Farms' broccoli salad kits is considered a "class 1" hazard, meaning there is "reasonable probability" that consuming the product will cause "serious adverse health consequences or death." 

Taylor Farms said the packaged food includes ingredients recalled earlier this week by Reser's Fine Foods. Last week, Listeria concerns prompted Reser's Fine Foods to recall over 100,000 cases of refrigerated ready-to-eat products.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the food was sold at deli counters in supermarket chains including Price Chopper, Shaw's, Shoprite, Acme Markets, Stop & Shop and other stores between Oct. 19 and Oct. 24. Separately, grocers Winn-Dixie and Giant Food announced they've removed the items from their stores and are offering customers refunds.

The recalled salad items include the "Taylor Farms Broccoli Crunch With Bacon And Dressing," case codes 310151 and 310153. Products have the establishment number EST. 34522 inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The salad kits were distributed to retail locations in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Vermont. According to the Food and Drug Administration, no illnesses have been reported 

Reser's has recalled 109,000 cases of refrigerated, ready-to-eat items that were distributed across the U.S. and Canada for possible contamination of Listeria monocytogenes. Reser's recalled its prepared salads, coleslaw and spinach dip, which came from the Reser's plant in Topeka, Kan.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection. Listeriosis typically affects older adults, pregnant women, infants and adults with compromised immune systems.

Symptoms include fever and muscle aches, and sometimes diarrhea or other gastrointestinal problems. Other symptoms can include headache, confusion and convulsions. It can be treated with antibiotics.

More serious results of listeria infection include inflammation of the brain, called meningitis, pneumonia, septicemia, a life-threatening infection or endocarditic, an infection of the heart.

In 2011, a listeria outbreak  infected 147 people and led to 33 deaths. The illness was traced to a contaminated batch of cantaloupe from Jensen Farms in Colorado. 

For a complete list of the items recalled, visit the FDA website.  

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