Recalls: Sprouts and Smoked Salmon--Sound Familiar?

If you're planning to decorate your lox and bagel sandwich with some fresh (raw) sprouts, just know you'll then be combining two foods that are frequently recalled for contamination. Raw foods are more likely to be contaminated than cooked ones since cooking kills most pathogens.  (However, foods mishandled after cooking can also become contaminated.) But some raw foods--yes, sprouts--show up on the government's recall list much more often than others. We (and the FDA) have been especially vehement about urging consumers not to buy, eat, or serve raw sprouts.

In both the latest sprouts and smoked salmon recalls, the pathogen involved is listeria.  After consuming food with this bacteria, healthy individuals may develop short-term symptoms such as high fever, headaches, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.  However, this "bug" can cause serious illness or death if the victim is a young child, an elderly person, or someone with a weakened immune system, perhaps due to chronic illness or cancer treatments. 

Sprouts:

Sprouters Northwest of Kent, Washington is recalling 1953 pounds of alfalfa, clover, brocco sandwich sprouts, and spicy sprouts due to the potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

These products were distributed from 1/10/13 to 1/18/13 in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and British Columbia, Canada through retail stores and food service distribution chains.

The affected products are sold under the Sprouters Northwest brand and are packaged in plastic clamshell containers and plastic 1 lb. bags.  For a list of the specific types of sprouts involved in this recall, go to the Sprouter press release.   Consumers should not consume the recalled sprouts products and are advised to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-253-872-0577 from 7AM to 2PM PST.

One reason that raw sprouts so often become contaminated is that they need both moisture and warmth to grow well, and these are the same conditions that allow bacteria to thrive.  To read more about problems with sprouts and the FDA's position on consuming them, go to http://shelflifeadvice.com/content/raw-sprouts-nutritious-and-dangerous.  If you put "sprouts" into the Shelf Life Advice home page search box, you'll reach other links to recalls of sprouts. 

UPDATE:  

Sprouter Northwest Expands Recall to All Varieties of Sprouts Products, Wheatgrass, and Pea Shoots with Any Best by Dates and All Sizes Because of Possible Health Risk. For more information on this update, go to this Sprouter Northwest press release. 

Smoked, Sliced Salmon (lox):

Whole Foods Market is recalling one lot code of Whole Catch Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon (4 oz), cold smoked and sliced, sold in stores in 12 states, because it may contain Listeria Monocytogenes.

The recalled salmon is sold in black-and-gold, flat, rectangular vacuum-sealed packages; the lot code being recalled is 7425A2298B. The lot code is ink-jet printed on the back of the package, on the upper left side. The UPC code is 0 99482 40880 0.

UPDATE:

Whole Foods Market is recalling an additional lot code of Whole Catch Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon (4 oz).  Named in this updated recall is a second lot code, 7425A2297A. Products with this lot code were sold in stores in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah.

Although no illnesses have been reported connected to this recall, Whole Foods is advising customers to dispose of the product in the garbage and wash their hands immediately to avoid any potential cross-contamination. Full refunds will be given at the store. Customers with questions may call 512-542-0060, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Central.

ANOTHER LOX RECALL:

Whole Foods Market Voluntarily Recalls Prepared Food Items Made with Circle Sea Salmon Lox Trim in Two States Due to Possible Health Risk. Whole Foods Market is recalling four items made with Circle Sea Salmon Lox Trim sold in Oregon and Washington state store seafood departments due to possible Listeria Monocytogenes contamination.  he salmon lox trim products (cold smoked salmon lox trim -- PLU 97629, Bagel Half with Lox Cream Cheese w/Capers – PLU 92811, Whole Bagel with Lox Cream Cheese with Capers – PLU 98437, Gravlox Cream Cheese Spread – PLU 95307) were sold in clear plastic containers or plastic wrapped with the label "Whole Foods Market."  For more information on this recall, click here.

Source(s):

fda.gov  "Sprouter Northwest Recalls Alfalfa, Brocco Sandwich Sprouts, Clover, Spicy Sprouts..."

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm337098.htm?source=govdelivery

fda.gov "Whole Foods Market Recall Whole Catch wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon...."

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm336951.htm?source=govdelivery