Pictsweet Recall Due to Listeria Concerns

With the number of food recalls this year, and with the holidays upon us, take the time to ensure you are handling raw meat properly, washing your hands and all surfaces the raw meat has touched, and cook your food to recommended internal temperatures.

Thursday, November 15, Jennie-O was the first company to recall turkey products due to an ongoing salmonella outbreak. Pictsweet has now recalled their Steam’ables Asparagus due to listeria contamination concerns.

The company is recalling almost 2,000 cases of Pictsweet Farms 8oz. Steam’ables Asparagus Spears due to the potential they may be contaminated with listeria.

The product is identified by UPC code 0 70560 97799 9 with production codes beginning with the following six digits: 2138XD and a “BEST BY AUG 01, 2020.” Located on the Nutrition Facts and cooking instructions side of the bag.

The company and the FDA say the products were distributed to nearly every state. The company initiated the recall after it was notified by one of its suppliers that the product was “inadvertently shipped to the Pictsweet Company”.

No illnesses have been reported so far.

Per the FDA’s announcement, “[c]onsumers who have purchased Pictsweet Farms 8 ounce Steam’ables Asparagus Spears with the code listed above may contact our consumer affairs line at 1-800-527-0986 from 9am to 5pm Central Standard Time, Monday – Friday or return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.”

Symptoms of Listeria Infection

According to the FDA, listeria poisoning can cause different symptoms depending on the person. Pregnant women and their newborns, adults age 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a listeria infection, which can be serious and sometimes fatal.

Those who are considered healthy may experience short-term symptoms such as a fever, headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

According to the CDC, a listeria infection during pregnancy can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery, or the development of a life-threatening infection within a few days after birth.

Symptoms can begin within a few days up to 4 weeks after eating contaminated food.

Prevention

To prevent a listeria infection, follow simple food safety guidelines from the Mayo Clinic:

Keep things clean. Wash your hands thoroughly with warm, soapy water before and after handling or preparing food. After cooking, use hot, soapy water to wash the utensils, cutting board and other food preparation surfaces.

Scrub raw vegetables. Clean raw vegetables with a scrub brush or vegetable brush under plenty of running water.

Cook your food thoroughly. Use a food thermometer to make sure your meat, poultry and egg dishes are cooked to a safe temperature.

For more information on listeria visit this page from the CDC.

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