Nationwide Recall of Cheeses, Spreads, Peanut Butter and Salsa
Parkers Farm, Inc. is recalling a variety of cheese, peanut butter and salsa products after a sampling done by the states of Wisconsin and Minnesota revealed that some finished products contained the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal sickness.
The following recalled products were distributed in retail stores nationwide including Hy-Vee, Cub, Rainbow, Byerlys Lunds, Target, Whole Foods, Jewel, Dominicks, Marsh, Price Chopper, Shop Rite, Nash Finch, Sams Club, Costco, Safeway and Kroger stores.
Products sold under the PARKERS FARM or PARKERS label:
16 Ounce Peanut Butter in square plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are creamy, crunchy, honey creamy and honey crunchy with Sell by Dates between 11/14/2010 and 12/31/2010
34 Ounce Peanut Butter in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are creamy and crunchy with Sell by Dates between 8/11/2010 and 9/30/2010
7 Ounce Bagel Spreads in white plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are garden veggie, wild berry, strawberry, apple cinnamon and honey walnut with Sell by Dates between 5/13/2010 and 6/30/2010
14 Ounce Dips & Spreads in square plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are jalapeno nacho, pimento and salsa con queso with Sell by Dates between 8/11/2010 and 9/30/2010
8 Ounce, 12 Ounce and 16 Ounce Cold Pack Cheese in round or square plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, bacon, onion, smoked cheddar, swiss almond, horseradish, garlic, port wine, and swiss & cheddar with Sell by Dates between 11/14/2010 and 12/31/2010
16 Ounce Salsa in square plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are hot, mild, garlic, black bean and fire roasted with Sell by Dates between 3/14/2010 and 4/30/2010
Other Labels Affected By This Recall:
16 Ounce Happy Farms Cold Pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine and swiss almond with Sell by Dates between 11/24/2010 and 12/10/2010
8 Ounce Kroger Cold Pack Cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine and swiss almond with Sell by Dates between 11/18/2010 thru 12/15/2010
8 Ounce Central Markets Cold Pack Cheese in round plastic containers (tub with nap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, horseradish with Sell by Dates of 12/9/2010
14 Oz. Central Markets Salsa Con Queso in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid) with Sell by Dates of 8/16/2010
16 Oz. Central Markets Salsa in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, horseradish with Sell by Dated of 3/17/2010 thru 3/24/2010
8 Oz. Dutch Farms Cold Pack Cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, horseradish, and swiss & cheddar with Sell by dates of 11/16/2010 thru 11/18/2010
Listeriosis, a serious and sometimes fatal infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, is recognized as an important public health problem in the United States. People suffering from listeriosis may suffer gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The most serious manifestations of listeriosis include septicemia, meningitis (or meningoencephalitis), encephalitis, and intrauterine or cervical infections in pregnant women, which may result in spontaneous abortion or stillbirth. These disorders are usually preceded by influenza-like symptoms including persistent fever.
L. monocytogenes has been associated with such foods as raw milk, supposedly pasteurized fluid milk, cheeses (particularly soft-ripened varieties), ice cream, raw vegetables, fermented raw-meat sausages, raw and cooked poultry, raw meats (all types) and raw and smoked fish. It is quite hardy and resists the deleterious effects of freezing, drying and heat and its ability to grow at temperatures as low as 3°C permits multiplication in refrigerated foods.
While healthy people may also be at risk, people most susceptible to the disease are children, frail or elderly people, pregnant women and people with immune systems weakened by corticosteroids, anticancer drugs, graft suppression therapy or AIDS.
Listeriosis has an extremely variable incubation period. It can range from three to 70 days, but symptoms usually appear within a month. Specific laboratory tests are the only way to identify this disease. People who are experiencing symptoms and fear they may have contracted Listeriosis, especially those people most at risk, should contact their physician.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Parkers Farm continue to investigate the source of the contamination. The manufacturer urges consumers who have purchased these products to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.Consumers with questions may contact the company at (800) 869-6685.
If you or a loved one has suffered health issues resulting from eating Parkers Farm products, you may be entitled to compensation. When a product causes serious injury or death, it is important to contact a personal injury attorney who has experience in handling product liability cases. Products liability is the branch of law that deals with the liability of parties involved in the manufacturing of a product for any damages caused by the product. Call Napoli Bern Ripka LLP today at 888-529-4669 to discuss your case and determine if you are entitled to compensation for your injuries.
