Revolution Farms, a lettuce grower based in Michigan, issued a major recall of its product out of concerns that it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
The recall was announced on April 5 and initially included only some of the company's products.
However, on April 6 Revolution Farms announced that the recall would be expanded to include all of its products with Best By dates of April 2, 2023.
Listeria outbreak triggers expanded recall
According to Fox's report, the announcement stated that the product subject to recall could potentially contain Listeria, which is a harmful organism that can cause severe and sometimes deadly infections in vulnerable people.
Some of the vulnerable populations include children under the age of 5, pregnant women, the elderly who are 65 and up, and people who are immunocompromised.
The recall was initiated by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development after a package of Revolution Farms Green Sweet Crisp 5 oz. with a Best By Date of April 2, 2023, tested positive for Listeria in a random sample.
Following its association with a Listeriosis outbreak that occurred in multiple states, Revolution Farms broadened its recall on April 6.
Although the company did not respond immediately to inquiries about the recall, it is collaborating with investigations conducted by both the MDARD and FDA, as indicated in the announcement posted on the FDA website.
As per the Food Poison Journal, the recalled products were distributed to and sold in the states, such as:
Michigan
Indiana
Ohio
Kentucky
Wisconsin
These Revolution Farms lettuces were also sold at places like the Meijer stores, Fresh Thyme Market Grand Rapids, Bridge St. Market, SpartanNash stores, and many more.
Symptoms of Listeriosis
According to the FDA, Listeria monocytogenes is a type of pathogenic bacteria, as noted by the FDA, that can thrive in moist environments such as water, soil, animals, and decaying vegetation.
It can also survive in refrigerated or other preserved foods. Consumption of contaminated food can result in listeriosis, which may produce a range of symptoms that can last from a few days to several weeks.
Mild symptoms include fever, diarrhea, muscle aches, vomiting, and nausea, while severe symptoms may include headache, convulsions, stiff neck, loss of balance, and confusion.
How to reduce the risk of getting Listeria
To prevent illness caused by Listeria, consumers should take some simple steps.
It is recommended to set the refrigerator to 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) or below and the freezer to 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 degrees Celsius) to slow down or prevent the growth of L. monocytogenes.
Additionally, according to the CDC, consumers should wash the inside walls, shelves of the refrigerator, cutting boards, and countertops regularly.
Any utensils that may have come in contact with contaminated foods should also be sanitized.
Spills in the refrigerator should be wiped immediately, and hands should be washed with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food and following any cleaning and sanitation process.
On the other hand, when preparing food for their pets, people who have pets should take extra precautions to prevent the food from becoming contaminated in any way.
They should thoroughly wash food dishes as soon as pets are done eating and prevent children, the elderly, and anyone with a weak immune system from handling the contaminated food.
Furthermore, all retailers with questionable products were told to remove the products from the store shelves, and anyone who purchased a recalled product should be instructed by Revolution Farms to either return the goods to the store they bought them from and get a full refund or dispose of the vegetables.
