If you’re one to grab bags of frozen vegetables to complete a quick dinner, you may want to check the brands and dates in your freezer before deciding to eat them.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has linked a recent outbreak of listeria (Listeria monocytogenes) back to several brands of frozen fruits and vegetables. Initially, the recall only included 15 products, but it has now expanded to include more than 350. It includes all organic and non-organic frozen produce that was packaged at CRF Frozen Foods in Pasco, WA since May 2014.
What is listeria?
Listeria is a foodborne pathogen like salmonella and E. coli, and while it’s less common, it is more deadly. If your immune system is strong, your body can often fight the bacteria and keep it from getting into your bloodstream. However, if listeria does enter the blood, it causes listeriosis, a dangerous infection that kills 1 in 5 people.
Common symptoms to look for include: headaches, body aches, confusion, loss of balance and fever.
Who is at risk?
Those who are the most susceptible to developing listeriosis are people who have weakened immune systems, pregnant women, infants and the elderly. An NPR article explains, “People 65 and older are four times more likely to get sick from listeria than the general population, and pregnant women — who may not develop listeriosis themselves but whose babies could be threatened — are 10 times more likely.”
What should I do?
Most importantly, check your labels to see if they’re included in the FDA’s recall list. The listeria recall goes back two years, so it’s also important to note that it doesn’t just include the frozen foods you grabbed during last week’s grocery trip.
If you or someone you know has been affected by the listeria recall or another recalled food or product, contact a skilled Colorado injury lawyer to go over your case.