SunBurst Foods of Goldsboro, NC, which recently recalled virtually all of its pre-packaged sandwiches, hamburgers, chili dogs, salads and other food products because of potential Listeria contamination, hasreportedly closed its doors. No illnesses are known to have been reported in connection with the recall.
The recall was announced Oct. 12 and included the food service company’s SunBurst, Fresh Bites and private labeled products sold in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia.
Some of the private label brands are River Edge Farms, CFW, Southern Zest, CJ’s Vending, Binford Street Deli, Middle Georgia Vendors, Roanoke Foods, Select Foods, and Jesse Jones (Double Chili Dogs). A complete list of all recalled products and brands can be found here.
Health officials indicated they were worried about the recalled products being available in grocery and convenience store freezers.
“Our biggest concern with Listeria is with ready-to-eat foods. It can actually grow in a cold environment,” said Keith Jernigan, environmental health supervisor with the Craven County Health Department in New Bern, NC.
Local media representatives had inquired about why SunBurst decided to close down operations rather than take some other action. Melanie Skinner, human resources manager for the company, was quoted as saying, “We determined that it was just in the best interest to shut down.”
The closure affects an estimated 84 employees who work at the firm’s Goldsboro headquarters and at distribution centers in Vanceboro and Salisbury, NC.