U.S – Irvington Seafood, an Alabama seafood supplier, has recalled its one-pound packages of “Crabmeat: Jumbo, Lump, Finger, and Claw meat amidst fears of Listeria contamination.
This came after routine tests conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in crab meat processing equipment.
So far, no crabmeat has been tested but there are fears that a possible cross-contamination might have occurred.
The crabmeat was shipped to distributors across the four southern states of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Georgia. However, no information was given regarding the retail stores or restaurants that bought crab meat from those distributors in those four states.
Irvington, west of Mobile Bay, is about 70 miles from the Florida state line and restaurants in other southeastern states could have possibly been affected.
The product came in a one-pound container package marked with the company name “Irvington Seafood,” and a license number of AL 111-C.
According to an FDA notice, production of the product has been suspended while the regulator and Irvington continue to investigate the source of the problem.
The FDA advised consumers who have purchased 1 lb. packages of “Crabmeat” to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.
Listeria is a bacteria that can be found in dust, soil, animal feces, and other substances. Consumption of contaminated food could lead to listeria infection, one of the main causes of food poisoning.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1,600 people get listeriosis each year, and about 260 die.
Symptoms of Listeria infection can include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. The infection usually doesn’t lead to serious illness if you’re healthy, though you may feel sick for a day or two.
It is especially dangerous in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems and can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
Northern Tier Bakery LLC of St. Paul Park, MN, also recently recalled 905 pounds of ready-to-eat salad products while Paris Brothers Inc., of Kansas City, MO, recalled dozens of specific cheese.
In addition, Brookshire Grocery Company of Tyler, Texas, issued a voluntary recall of its bulk Yellow Flesh Peaches.
As we kicked off 2022, Dole packaged salad manufactured by Dole Food Company was also implicated in a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections.
As per the FDA, the outbreak ended in April having led to the hospitalization of sixteen people and the death of three others.
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