Green Giant, Trader Joe’s, other brands of vegetable products recalled for Listeria
By News Desk on July 1, 2019
Saying state inspectors found Listeria monocytogenes in a sample of an unspecified fresh vegetable product, Growers Express LLC launched a recall of Green Giant and other brands of products from various retailers in dozens of states.
Self-described as “the primary licensed partner of Green Giant Fresh, the exclusive fresh produce arm of the iconic Green Giant brand” in its recall notice, the California-based Growers Express reported the situation does not involve frozen or canned products.
Major retailers including Food Lion and Trader Joe’s are among those that received some of the recalled products. Growers Express own brand as well as others are included in the recall. (See chart below for specific product information.)
The implicated fresh produce products were distributed from a Growers Express production facility in Biddleford, ME, according to the company’s recall notice posted tonight by the Food and Drug Administration. As of the posting of the notice, no illnesses had been confirmed in relation to the potentially contaminated fresh produce products.
“We selfreported (sic) the need for this recall to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and stopped production immediately after being notified of a single positive sample by the Massachusetts Department of Health,” Growers Express President Tom Byrne said in the written notice.
Consumers are urged to check their homes for the recalled product products and through them away even if part of the product has been consumed and no one has become ill. It can take up to 70 days for symptoms of Listeria infection to develop.
The Growers Express owners have initiated “deep sanitizing” of the implicated production facility and equipment there, according to the recall notice. The company officials say they are “conducting continued testing on top of our usual battery of sanitation and quality and safety tests before resuming production.”
Consumers with questions can refer to the toll-free number listed on each package, according to the recall notice.
Retailer Label Description/
Brand Item Name Pack Weight Item SKU UPC Number Lot No. States Affected Best By
Big Y Foods
Green Giant Fresh Cauliflower Sweet Potato Crumbles 1 lb. MXC
100101 60580
6000515 190612-403102
MA
6/28/2019
Green Giant Fresh Cauliflower Crumbles “Fried Rice” Blend 1 lb. MXC
101101 60580
6000744 190612-403101 6/28/2019
Green Giant Fresh Butternut Diced 12 oz. BNC
101101 60580
6138010 190614-403545 6/26/2019
Bozzutos
Green Giant Fresh Cauliflower Sweet Potato Crumbles 1 lb. MXC
100101 60580
6000515 190612-403102
CT
6/28/2019
Green Giant Fresh Cauliflower Crumbles “Fried Rice” Blend 1 lb. MXC
101101 60580
6000744 190612-403101 6/28/2019
C&S
Green Giant Fresh Cauliflower Crumbles “Fried Rice” Blend 1 lb. MXC
101101 60580
6000744 190612-403101
MA
6/28/2019
Green Giant Fresh Butternut Diced 12 oz. BNC
101101 60580
6138010 190614-403545 6/26/2019
Green Giant Fresh Butternut Cubed 2 lb. BNC
102101 60580
6138218 190614-403576 6/26/2019
Food Lion
Green Giant Fresh Cauliflower Crumbles “Fried Rice” Blend 1 lb. MXC
101101 60580
6000744 190612-403101
SC, NC, PA, VA
6/28/2019
Four Seasons
Green Giant Fresh Ramen Bowl 7.4 oz. MXC
183104 60580
6027864 190614-403534
PA
6/28/2019
Native Maine
Growers Express Butternut Peeled 10 lb. BNC
103103 Foodservice 190614-403578
PA
Pack Date Only
Procacci
Green Giant Fresh Cauliflower Sweet Potato Crumbles 1 lb. MXC
100101 60580
6000515 190612-403102
PA
6/28/2019
Ruby Robinson (PFG)
Growers Express Butternut Peeled 10 lb. BNC
103102 Foodservice 190614-403577
ME
Pack Date Only
Shaws
Signature Farms Cauliflower Crumbles 1 lb. CAC
101109 21130
98438 190612-403100
MA
6/28/2019
Green Giant Fresh Cauliflower Sweet Potato Crumbles 1 lb. MXC
100101 60580
6000515 190612-403102 6/28/2019
Green Giant Fresh Ramen Bowl 7.4 oz. MXC
183104 60580
6027864 190614-403534 6/28/2019
Green Giant Fresh Butternut Diced 12 oz. BNC
101101 60580
6138010 190614-403545 6/26/2019
Stop & Shop
Green Giant Fresh Zucchini Noodles 10.5 oz. MSC
104102 60580
6000881 190614-403567
NY, MD
6/26/2019
Green Giant Fresh 10.5 oz. 190617-403954 6/29/2019
Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash Spirals 10.5 oz. BCN
105106 623391 190614-403565
AL, CT, D.C., DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI,
MN, MO, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN (only Knoxville, Nashville), VA, VT, WI
6/28/2019
Trader Joe’s Zucchini Spirals 10.5 oz. MSC
104106 634908 190617-403814
AL, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, OH, SC, TN
(only Knoxville, Nashville), VA (only Glen Allen, Newport News, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg), WI
6/27/2019
Information about Listeria infection
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections. Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical treatment and tell their doctors about the possible Listeria exposure.
Also, anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products should monitor themselves for symptoms during the coming weeks because it can take up to 70 days after exposure to Listeria for symptoms of listeriosis to develop.
Symptoms of Listeria infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness. Specific laboratory tests are required to diagnose Listeria infections, which can mimic other illnesses.
Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and people such as cancer patients who have weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of serious illnesses, life-threatening infections and other complications. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, their infections can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn or even stillbirth.
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