Recall of Frozen Vegetables Linked to Listeria Outbreak

EMSL Analytical, Inc. offers testing services to prevent and pinpoint Listeria outbreaks.

Seattle, WA – WEBWIRE – Wednesday, June 1, 2016

EMSL Analytical, Inc. Laboratory Locations

 

In May, a frozen food recall related to Listeria contamination was expanded to include approximately 400 products. The original recall was issued in March by a Washington food company after some frozen vegetables were linked to a Listeria outbreak. The contaminated frozen food products are believed to have been distributed nationally beginning in 2014. Since then, the Ohio Department of Agriculture has tested a variety of frozen vegetables under additional brands. The result found that the Listeria monocytogenes from the vegetables were closely related to the bacterial isolates found in ill individuals.

Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive bacterium that has been found in at least 37 mammalian species, both domestic and feral, as well as at least 17 species of birds and possibly some species of fish and shellfish. It has been isolated from soil, silage and other environmental sources. The microorganism is hardy and resists the effects of freezing, drying and heat remarkably well. Listeria monocytogenes can also lead to Listeriosis, a rare but serious illness caused by eating foods contained with the bacteria. Symptoms can include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. In pregnant women, Listeria can cause miscarriages and stillbirths.

“Recalls related to Listeria or other food contaminates can be costly and time consuming for companies,” said Joseph Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Manager at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “At EMSL, we offer advanced testing techniques to identify Listeria and other foodborne pathogens in contaminated foods. Manufactures can use these services to help prevent contaminated foods from reaching the public or to identify the source of an outbreak if one has already occurred.”

EMSL has sponsored an educational video about Listeria that can be seen at: http://youtu.be/iXQOwCfZQek.