The heat-treated, not fully cooked, not shelf-stable meat and poultry was produced on various dates between 1 May 2014 and 1 May 2016, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
The products affected by the recall have an establishment number of EST. 21225, EST. 9281, EST. 1623A or EST. 18356 inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped across the US, as well as to Canada and Mexico.
Listeriosis fear
“The problem was discovered when Ajinomoto Windsor was notified by CRF Frozen Foods that its frozen vegetables used in Ajinomoto Windsor products were involved in a recall,” said FSIS.
“CRF Frozen Foods of Pasco, Washington, voluntarily recalled frozen fruit and vegetable items due to an illness outbreak of listeriosis. There have been no confirmed reports of illness or adverse reactions due to consumption of Ajinomoto Windsor’s products.”
By eating food contaminated with listeria monocytogenes, one can contract listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, people with weakened immune systems and pregnant women and their new-borns.
Concern raised
Symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhoea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.
Consumers in the higher-risk categories who have experienced flu-like symptoms within two months of eating the affected products have been advised to seek medical care and tell the health-care provider about eating the contaminated food.
FSIS expressed concern that some products may be frozen for later use.
Contaminated products should be thrown away or returned to their place of purchase.
A full list of recalled products can been found on the FSIS website.