Taco kit recalled over fears of listeria contamination

A taco kit has been recalled over fears it could cause illness due to bacterial contamination.

Following a recall initiated by Fresh Creative Foods, a division of Reser’s Fine Foods, Inc., Sprouts Farmers Market recalled its Chicken Street Taco Meal Kit after it was found to contain traces of Listeria monocytogenesa bacteria that can cause food poisoning.

The affected products carry the UPC code 205916813991 and expiration dates ranging from September 2, 2024 to November 7, 2024.

Anyone who purchased the product is advised not to consume it and to discard it or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. The Food and Drug Administration also encourages consumers to take “Additional vigilance in cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and containers. that may have come into contact with these products to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

news week has contacted Sprouts Farmers Market for comment via email outside of normal business hours.

“Listeria is particularly dangerous because it can survive in refrigerators and freezers, and infected foods may not look, smell or taste any different,” said Michelle Anstey, a food safety expert at NSF, a public health and safety organization. previously said news week. “When contaminated food is handled, diseases can spread through human contact and lack of sanitation.”

Listeria symptoms may begin in the days and weeks after infection. Those with less severe illness can expect fever, muscle aches, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

However, if a more serious infection occurs, it can cause symptoms such as headaches, stiff neck, loss of balance, confusion, and seizures. There can be complications and some listeria infections need to be treated in hospital. If you think you have a serious case of food poisoning, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately.

“These foodborne illnesses are dangerous because they can have serious effects on people’s health, including vomiting, diarrhea, fever and, in severe cases, brain infections and blood infections,” Anstey said. “They can be especially dangerous for those who are immunocompromised, including pregnant women, children and older adults.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that about 1,600 people in the U.S. get listeriosis each year, and about 260 of them die.

An investigation by Traceone, a regulatory compliance company, earlier this year found that bacterial contamination, including recalls due to listeria and viruses such as salmonella and E. coli, is the The second most common reason for recalls. across the United States, accounting for 21 percent of all withdrawals.

Earlier this year, a major recall was issued on meat products for listeria contamination. An outbreak of the bacteria at a factory that produces Boar’s Head products resulted in 59 hospitalizations and 10 deaths in 19 states.