Trader Joe's is recalling 4,865 pounds of frozen butter chicken and rice products because they may be contaminated with Listeria bacteria.
Both the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service and Trader Joe's issued press releases to the public about the store brand Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice frozen food.
According to Trader Joe's customer update, "all code dates of this product have been removed from sale and destroyed. To date, we have received no reports of illness related to this product." The report also says that customers who purchased the recall product are "urged not to eat it, and to dispose of it or return it to any Trader Joe's for a full refund."
The USDA press release stated that while 10 cartons of the chicken product are on hold at the distribution center, 240 cartons have already been distributed to Trader Joe's retail stores. The 12.5 ounce boxes have a product code "2012-10-31" and lot code "30512."
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Canadian Establishment 720, Aliya's Foods Limited is conducting the recall. The release said that CFIA is overseeing the recall in Canada and FSIS is overseeing the effectiveness in the U.S.
FSIS is concerned that consumers may already have purchased the recalled chicken but have not yet been notified of the recall.
The FSIS press release provided the affects of consuming food contaminated with Listeria bacteria:
"Can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons without these risk factors can be affected. Listeriosis can cause fever, headache, neck stiffness, and muscle aches, often preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within 2 months after eating contaminated food should seek a health care provider."
According to the Los Angeles Times, the more than 100 affected Trader Joe's stores are in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Virginia.
Customers with questions should call Trader Joe's at 626-599-3817.
USDA recently said it was increasing its screening to avoid additional cases listeria-related, which has been rising lately.
"In recent months there have been several recalls of RTE meat and poultry products because of adulteration with L. monocytogenes. Foodborne illnesses and deaths have been linked to some recalled products," the USDA said in an earlier statement, referencing their intention for tightening standards, according to National Monitor. "It has generally been concluded that the adulteration occurred through cross-contamination from environmental sources following cooking. Industry for the most part, has identified this as an SSOP failure."
