ATLANTA — Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin announced today that Georgia Department of Agriculture food scientists have found Listeria monocytogenes in a store sample of imitation crab dip in south Georgia.
The seven-ounce sample of Salads of the Sea Supreme Krab Dip (imitation crab) was sold at Winn-Dixie supermarkets south of a line from Columbus to Augusta. Listeria monocytogenes, is a species of bacteria that can potentially cause illness. The contamination was found only in a 7-ounce package marked SELL BY August 23, 2006.
The dip is distributed by Future Food, LTD, Dallas, Texas.
ìWinn-Dixie is notifying its stores that bought the crab dip to pull it from their shelves. Department of Agriculture inspectors will be checking stores to make sure it is removed. Anyone who purchased this product may return it to the store for a refund,” said Commissioner Irvin.
Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially serious disease. The most common manifestation of listeriosis is meningitis, which has symptoms of high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections to infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems such as persons with chronic disease, AIDS or HIV infection or taking chemotherapy for cancer.