07/13/2010 // West Palm Beach, FL, USA // Sandra Quinlan // Sandra Quinlan
Plant City, FL—Marjon Specialty Foods, Inc., in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), voluntarily recalled 119 cases of sliced apples after it was discovered that they might have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The FDA announced the food safety recall on Monday, July 5, 2010.
The potentially hazardous sliced apples were packaged in 2 oz. single serve packages. Marjon Specialty Foods issued the recall after routine product sampling revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes at least one unit.
The packages were labeled as follows:
• Brand name: Simply Fresh Fruit
Use By date: 7-20-10
Number of cases distributed: 1
Number of 2 oz. packages per case: 100
• Brand Name: Simply Fresh Fruit
Use By date: 7-21-10
Number of cases distributed: 5
Number of 2 oz. packages per case: 100
• Brand Name: Simply Fresh Fruit
Use By date: 7-20-10
Number of cases distributed: 83
Number of 2 oz. packages per case: 72
• Brand Name: Miller’s Ale House
Use By date: 7-20-10
Number of cases distributed: 30
Number of 2 oz. packages per case: 24
According to the FDA, “Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals may suffer 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.”
The affected products were sold to three foodservice distributors in Florida, as well as institutional and food service establishments.
While the FDA’s press release indicated the apples may have been removed from their original packaging, “These products have been successfully accounted for and destroyed by our customers.”
Also, no illnesses or adverse effects have been reported in connection with the recalled sliced apples.
Marjon Specialty Foods is reported working with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) as a means of determining the source of the contamination and completing additional inspections.
Production was halted pending the completion of a full July, 6, 2010 inspection of the facility. Production has since been recommenced.
Consumers with questions or concerns may contact Marjon Specialty Foods, Inc. at (813) 752-3482 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST.
Legal News Reporter: Sandra Quinlan- Legal News for Product Liability Attorneys.
Media Information:
Address:
Phone: (866) 598-1315
Url: http://sandra.visionsmartnews.com/food-safety-listeria-threat-prompted-florida-company-to-recall-sliced-apples_1318.html
