6,000 Pounds of Expired Apple Slices Recalled for Listeria

By News Desk | December 11, 2012 Freshway Foods is recalling 6,671 pounds of sliced apples that were packaged on November 12. The apples all used the same packing machine, which may have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The company said they are not aware of any illnesses linked to their product, but the recall was initiated after a routine and random retail sample of sliced green apple product, taken by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, tested positive for the bacteria. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. The recall includes: 2.4 oz red apple slices with a use by date of November 30 (shipped to AL, FL, GA, KY, NY, TN, WI), 14 oz red apple slices in a Motts Interlocking Bag with a use by date of December 3 or December 6 (shipped to FL, GA, NC), and 14 oz green apple slices in a Motts Interlocking Bag (shipped to NC). Freshway is advising consumers who may have recalled products to not consume them and to throw them away. In a release distributed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday, Freshway Foods said they are keeping the agency informed of its "recall process." The company also said it is notifying retail customers and food service distributors who received the recalled product directly from the company and requesting that they remove from commerce any of the expired products that they still have in inventory. "As an extra precautionary measure we are also asking our direct customers to notify their customers of this recall," read the release. "Freshway Foods is issuing this precautionary voluntary recall because we are committed to our customers and the well-being of the consumers who enjoy our products every day," said Phil Gilardi, president of Freshway Foods. "We follow industry and federal food safety regulations and guidelines, and are working to carry out this recall in an effective and efficient manner in order to reduce even the slightest risk to public health." © Food Safety News More Headlines from Food Recalls » Tags: apples, Listeria monocytogenes