Bagged fresh kale, spinach and collard greens recalled over Listeria concerns
Lancaster Foods is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of three brands of bagged fresh kale, spinach and collard greens products due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination after a routine random sample tested positive, according to a Department of Defense All Food and Drug Activity message sent May 6.
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. The illness caused by these bacteria can take up to 70 days to appear. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.
The Defense Commissary Agency has publicized this recall to all its stores, said Richard Stith, Chief, Public Health Division, DeCA headquarters at Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia. Whenever a commissary has recalled or withdrawn products in its inventory, they are immediately removed from store shelves.
The following products, bearing establishment number “EST. 54” inside the USDA mark of inspection are affected by this recall:
- Robinson Fresh Kale Greens, 16 ounces: UPC 0-95829-60015-9 with a “best if used by” date of May 1
- Robinson Fresh Kale Greens, 32 ounces: UPC 0-95829-60016-6 with a “best if used by” date of May 1
- Lancaster Chopped Kale, 4 ounces: “Best if used by” date of May 1
- Giant Curly Leaf Spinach, 8 ounces: UPC 6-88267-09813-0 with a “best if used by” date of April 29
- Robinson Fresh Collard Greens, 16 ounces: UPC 0-95829-60006-7 with a “best if used by” date of May 1
- Giant Collard Greens, 16 ounces: UPC 6-88267-05311-5 with a “best if used by” date of May 1
Customers should check their refrigerators for this product and return it to the commissary of purchase for a full refund. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions related to this recall.
Questions about this recall should contact Lancaster Foods Customer Service at (877) 844-3441 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT.