Pictsweet Farms Steam’ables Asparagus Spears recalled over listeria concerns

The Pictsweet Company is voluntarily recalling specific Pictsweet Farms Steam’ables Asparagus Spears because they may be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes, according to a recall notice from the Defense Commissary Agency’s food safety office sent Nov. 13.

Defense Commissary Agency has publicized this recall to all its stores, said Richard Stith, lead consumer safety officer for DeCA headquarters at Fort Lee, Virginia. Whenever a commissary has recalled or withdrawn products in its inventory, they are immediately removed from store shelves.

The following product is affected by this recall:

• Pictsweet Farms Steam’ables Asparagus Spears, 8 ounces: UPC 0 70560 97799 9 with production codes beginning with the following six digits: 2138XD and a “best by” date of Aug. 1, 2020.

Listeria monocytogenes may cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, the frail or elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. Healthy adults may only suffer short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeria infections may also cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

No illnesses have been reported to date, but the illness caused by these bacteria can take up to 70 days to appear. No other Pictsweet Farms products are impacted by this recall. Customers should return this product to the commissary of purchase for a full refund.

Questions about this recall should be directed to Pictsweet Company consumer affairs at (800) 527-0986, Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., CST.