Dips and Spreads Recalled For Fear of Listeria

Parkers Farm Acquisition, LLC of Coon Rapids has issued a voluntary recall of cheeses, salsas, and spreads for fear of a deadly listeria outbreak, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is alerting consumers to avoid eating Parkers Farm products after random precuts sampling discovered that an alarming number of products were contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, listeria outbreaks are considered one of the more deadly bacterial infections that result from eating contaminated food. Listeriosis causes fever, headache, confusion, and muscle aches. In pregnant women, it only causes fever and aches, but is infamous for frequently causing miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature delivery.

Thankfully, there have been no reports of illness ties to the product so far, but health officials remain vigilant as the recall goes underway.

According to an FDA public warning, the contaminated products in question have been identified as various Parkers peanut butters, spreads, salsas, cold-pack cheeses, and cheese balls. Happy Farms, Central Markets, Hy-Top, Amish Classic, Say Cheez, Win Schuler, and Bucky Badger various cheese products and spreads have also been identified as Parkers Farm Acquisition produced products at risk of contamination.

All the aforementioned products have a sell-by-date of 07/20/2014, 09/20/2014, or 03/20/2015.

The products have been distributed nationwide, and food regulators are still in the process of contacting distributors about the danger. Consumers have been asked to discard of the products immediately once identified.

According to a recent letter from Parkers Farms, in 2010 the company has a similar incident, but no illnesses were reported before or after the recall.

The Listeria monocytogenes bacteria is commonly found in cheeses, but it can also show up in greens, some spread products, and even fruits. In 2011 a deadly listeriosis outbreak caused by contaminated cantaloupes claimed 33 lives, including one unborn child.

Since then, U.S. health officials and food producers alike have been extremely vigilant for even potential contamination.

The FDA public warning was published on March 22.