Wisconsin's Garden Fresh Foods Recalls Nearly 10 Tons Of Food
By Sam Lewis
Ready-to-eat chicken and ham may be contaminated with Listeriosis-causing bacteria
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on Wednesday, Sept 25 that Milwaukee-based Garden Fresh Foods would be recalling more than 19,000 pounds of food. The products being recalled are in the company’s ready-to-eat chicken and ham line, which may have been contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes, a bacteria causing Listeriosis, a type of food poisoning. The problem was discovered through testing for microbiological particles at the FDA testing facility.
The recall has been given a Class I risk, meaning customers who eat this product are likely to become very sick. Class II risks present less risk of becoming sick, with the illness being less severe than a Class I risk. Class III risks present no dangers to consumers’ health through consumption, but violate FDA labeling regulations.
The products being recalled have the establishment number “EST 17256” or “Est. P-17256” and include the following: Market Pantry All White Meat Chicken Salad (12 oz.), Archer Farms Rotisserie Chicken Salad (6 oz.), Archer Farms Bacon Parmesan Dip (11 oz.), D'Amico and Sons Chicken Salad with Rosemary (14 oz.), D'Amico and Sons Chicken & Dried Cherry Pasta (6 and 14 oz.), D'Amico and Sons Ranch Pasta Salad with Chicken, Spinach & Bacon (6 and 14 oz.), Finest Traditions Ham Salad Spread (12 oz.), Garden Fresh Salad with Sweet Relish (12 oz.), and Weis Ham Salad (8 oz.). Questions and concerns about these products can be directed to the company through its 800-number. FSIS is also now available to answer questions regarding this and other recalls through its 888-number, as well as AskKaren.gov.
These products were distributed to food service and retail locations throughout the U.S. At time of writing, there have been no reports of illness from consumption of these products. FSIS routinely checks on recalls by calling firms, making sure consumers have been notified, and the product is no longer on the shelf. When available, the retail distribution list of current recalls is listed here.
Consumers believing they are at risk of Listeriosis should wash their hands before and after handling raw meat and poultry. Cutting boards, dishes, and utensils should also be cleaned before and after use. Other measures include keeping raw food separate from cooked food, not consuming unpasteurized milk and avoiding products with it in them. Finally, avoid eating salads with meat in them (ham salad, chick salad, tuna salad, and seafood salad) along with egg salad. The FDA’s current efforts in this case have been adequate in discovering, and removing contaminated food from grocers’ shelves and consumers’ kitchens. Upcoming Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) guidelines aim to improve traceability and speed the process of recalling contaminated products. If all goes according to plan, these new rules should be finalized by summer 2015.