Supermarket chain Hy-Vee is voluntarily recalling frozen rice food items due to listeria fears in the United States. No illnesses linked to the recall have been reported so far.
The recall for Hy-Vee's frozen Vegetable Fried Rice and Chicken Fried Rice has been issued in eight states, including Wisconsin, Nebraska, South Dakota, Missouri, Minnesota, Illinois, Kansas and Iowa.
The company has decided to pull out the two items from its stores nationwide to increase the effectivity of its cautionary measures.
The Hy-Vee Vegetable Fried Rice products were sold in 1-pound bags with Universal Product Code (UPC) number 000007545012530 and has a use-by date of Nov. 5, 2017, or earlier.
On the other hand, the Hy-Vee Chicken Fried Rice products were sold in 20-ounce bags. It has the same use-by date, while the UPC number is 0075450125290. These two products were sold between July 24, 2014 and May 12, 2016.
Hy-Vee supplier Ajinomoto Windsor discovered the potential listeria contamination and announced the product recall on May 7.
Both companies have assured that no other Hy-Vee and Ajinomoto Windsor products are affected by the current recall. They urge customers who bought the products to discard them immediately or return the items to the store where they were purchased.
What Is Listeria?
A listeria infection is caused by listeria monocytogenes, which can cause severe, and in some cases, fatal infections in people who have compromised immune systems.
Senior adults, young children and pregnant women are often at the highest risk of listeria infection. In some cases, it can cause stillbirths and miscarriages.
Symptoms of listeria infection include severe headaches, nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain and high fever.
Frozen Vegetable Listeria Outbreak
Since March, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and local governments for the multi-state listeria outbreak in frozen vegetables.
Eight hospitalizations since Sept. 13, 2013 have been linked to the case. Among these eight people, two patients died, however, reports showed that listeria infection was not the cause of death.
Laboratory reports have traced the listeria outbreak to the frozen vegetable food items manufactured by CRF Frozen Foods. On April 23 the company recalled 11 food items that may have been compromised.
On May 2, CRF Frozen Foods expanded the recall and included all of its frozen fruits and vegetable products, including the organic ones, that were manufactured in its Washington plant.
The frozen vegetable listeria outbreak is an ongoing case and more information will be released once they become available.
Photo: Danny Bollinger | Flickr
