CRF Foods had voluntary recalled 358 of its food products after seven people became hospitalized with listeria. The company already recalled 15 vegetable products on April 23. The voluntary recall was announced after reports of seven people becoming sick and two died.
The widespread recall issued by CRF Frozen Foods includes products under 42 brands sold at large chains including Wal-Mart, Costco, Jewel-Osco and Trader Joe's in the Chicago area. Since May 1, 2014 any frozen or conventional fruits and vegetables that are processed in the Pasco, WA facility is recalled, the Chicago Tribune reports.
"We apologize for any concern or inconvenience this expanded recall has caused our customers and consumers who enjoy our products. We are issuing this release to alert consumers not to eat these products," CRF Frozen Foods said in the news release.
Based on the Seattle Times report, since September 13, 2013, eight people from three states has been hospitalized with the listeria outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although listeria was not the direct cause of death, the illnesses were linked to the frozen vegetables processed by CRF Frozen Foods.
Victims or caregivers being interviewed stated that some reported consuming Organic by Nature brand frozen vegetables in the month before they fell ill.
The CDC website cited listeriosis as a distinguished infection caused by eating food affected with the microscopic organism listeria monocytogenes. It basically affects people with immune system including pregnant women, elderly and infants.
The frozen food processing company has informed all retailers who might have carried the contaminated products, which could have been bought in all 50 U.S. states including the four Canadian provinces, as reported by MSN.
Products that are affected have a "best by" or "sell by" between April 26, 2016 and April 26, 2018, said the release. Customer can return the products from where they bought it for a refund or simply get rid of them.