Food Poisoning Blog

Specialty-Farms, LLC is voluntarily recalling Specialty Farms brand Organic Alfalfa Sprouts Blend and Organic Sprout Salad because they could be tainted with Listeria Monocytogenes, announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These items both have a “sell-by date of 7/26/2010″ and are net weight 4 ounces in plastic containers:

BRAND                              ITEM DESCRIPTION                           UPC
Specialty Farms                  Organic Alfalfa Sprouts Blend              8192400108
Specialty Farms                  Organic Sprout Salad                        8192400024

Listeria Monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and those with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals experience only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Specialty-Farms, LLC voluntarily recalled sprouts on July 23, 2010 after laboratory analysis found positive results from one retail sample.

All products dated 7/27/2010 and beyond are not included in this recall.

The above items were distributed to retailer Price Chopper and distributor Cooseman’s NY and found in the following states: NY, CT, MA, NH, VT and PA.

Specialty-Farms, LLC is determining exactly where this potential Listeria contamination could be occurring in its facility and is immediately remedying the potential sources as they are identified. Specialty Farms, LLC hopes to return to full sprout production soon.

Consumers who have purchased this product are urged to return it to the point of purchase for refund and can contact Specialty-Farms, LLC with questions at (203) 366-6919 between the hours of 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. EST.

In the United States, Listeria monocytogenes infects about 2,500 people annually, unfortunately, killing about 500.