The bacteria known as Listeria is a pathogenic organism that threatens human health and can potentially result in death. Recently, fresh spinach from two food companies was recalled in seven states due to the contamination of a deadly Listeria monocytogenes.
Deadly Listeria Concerns on Fresh Spinach
Unsplash/Andrijana Bozic
The recall occurred following a routine sampling procedure carried out by the Florida Department of Agriculture, which, per the FDA, detected Listeria monocytogenes in a solitary randomly selected package of spinach. After receiving an announcement from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Fresh Express has voluntarily recalled its 8-ounce fresh bagged spinach and Publix Spinach in a 9-ounce bag.
The concerned merchants were immediately alerted by Fresh Express. Upon receiving the notification, they were advised to eliminate the recalled products from store shelves and any inventories. In the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Virginia, the two spinach products that were recalled and had use-by dates that had run out were shipped to merchants.
With a used-by date of Dec. 15, 2023, the Fresh Express spinach has the product number G332 and is sold in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia. On the other hand, the Publix Spinach has the same product code number with a used-by date of Dec. 14, 2023. It is distributed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The identification codes can be found below the use-by date on the front of the packaging.
Moreover, as of Wednesday, Dec. 21, the FDA and Fresh Express have not received any reports of sickness regarding the recall, and the company is not recalling any other products from their line.
How will you know if you're experiencing side effects of Listeria monocytogenes?
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), when an individual eats food infected with Listeria, the bacteria can move beyond the intestinal tract to other parts of the body, resulting in severe sickness. As mentioned, people who are pregnant, those who are 65 years of age or older, and anyone who has a compromised immune system are at a higher risk. The FDA warns that although other people can become infected with Listeria, they rarely become serious illnesses.
Additionally, many individuals infected with Listeria who recover without antibiotic treatment may experience moderate symptoms of food poisoning. CDC recommends that individuals who suspect they have consumed contaminated food and exhibit symptoms consistent with the illness should promptly consult a healthcare professional.
On the other hand, an outbreak of intestinal illnesses associated with salads sold at McDonald's restaurants in 2018 was caused by Fresh Express. According to the CDC, all 511 persons fell sick throughout the Midwest after eating McDonald's salads. McDonald's switched salad-mix suppliers after 24 individuals were hospitalized and no deaths occurred.
The FDA confirmed the presence of cyclospora at a manufacturing facility owned by Fresh Express located in Streamwood, Illinois. In addition, the CDC reported that Fresh Express recalled Streamwood plant salad bags in June 2020 owing to cyclospora infections that affected 701 persons in 14 states and hospitalized 38. Fortunately, there was no report of any fatalities.
