The U.S Department of Agriculture announced a recall Friday of about 5,000 pounds of broccoli salad kits retailed by Taylor Farms over possible Listeria contamination.
The product being recalled is TAYLOR FARMS BROCCOLI CRUNCH WITH BACON AND DRESSING with case codes 310151 or 310153. The kits have production dates from October 21 to 23 and have an establishment number EST. 34522 inside the USDA mark of inspection.
Taylor Farms shipped the said products to several states including Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Vermont. The salad kits are being sold in supermarkets including Price Chopper, Shaw’s, Shoprite, Acme Markets, Stop & Shop and others. They have all removed the products from their stores.
According to the USDA, the Listeria contamination was detected on the dressing packets of the boxes by the Food and Drug Administration. Taylor Farms voluntarily informed the federal agencies of the specific product kits needed to be recalled.
To date, health agencies have not received any complaints about any sicknesses related to the broccoli salad.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Listeria contamination happens when a food got infected by a bacterium Listeria monocytogenes due to improper food preparation, consumption, and storage. Older adults, children, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk which can lead to meningitis, fetal loss, and death. The mortality rate of those infected is at 21 percent.
The USDA classified the recall as Class I which means “there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.”
If you suspect that you might have gotten the disease, the USDA recommends contacting the healthcare provider immediately. The Taylor Farms customer service is also available for reports and questions and can be reached at 866-508-7048.
