Helados La Tapatia, Inc., of Fresno, California, is voluntarily recalling all ice cream products, popsicles, fruit bars/cups and bolis due to a possible health risk from Listeria monocytogenes. Helados La Tapatia, Inc., is coordinating closely with regulatory officials.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although 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 products were distributed in Arizona, California, Nevada, Washington, Guam and Canada in retail stores. The products are sold under the brand names of Helados La Tapatia and Icesations.

No illnesses have been reported to date. The recall was the result of a routine inspection program by the U.S. FDA which revealed the presence of the bacteria on certain food processing equipment.

Photo: Product Labels

Castle Cheese Inc. is recalling Okanagan’s Choice Cheese brand shredded cheese products from the marketplace.

Due to possible Listeria contamination, consumers should not consume the recalled products.

The affected products are shredded cheddar cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese, shredded parmesan cheese and nacho blend (cheddar and mozzarella cheese).

“There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products,” states the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which has issued the recall.

This recall was triggered by the company. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled the CFIA will notify the public through updated food recall warnings.

Consumers are urged to check to see if they have recalled products in their home, which should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased.

“Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick,” said CFIA.

Symptoms can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, the infection can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn or even stillbirth. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

The products have been sold in Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba.

Dole brand Italian Blend salad is being pulled from store shelves because of possible Listeria contamination.

The salad, made by Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc., is sold in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick but may have also been sold in other provinces.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says the affected salad is sold in a 10-ounce bag with a best-before date of 14-MR-12.

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick.There are no reported illnesses tied to eating this salad.Symptoms can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk.

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Dole Fresh Vegetables is voluntarily recalling a limited number of cases of bagged salad. The products being recalled are Dole Italian Blend (UPC 7143000819), Fresh Selections Italian Style Blend (UPC 1111091045), Little Salad Bar Italian Salad (UPC 4149811014) and Marketside Italian Style Salad (UPC 8113102780) coded A058201A or B, with Use-by date of March 12, 2014 due to a possible health risk from Listeria monocytogenes. Dole Fresh Vegetables is coordinating closely with regulatory officials. No illnesses have been reported in association with the recall.

The product code and Use-by date are in the upper right-hand corner of the package; the UPC code is on the back of the package, below the barcode. The salads were distributed in 15 U.S. states (Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia) and 3 Canadian provinces (New Brunswick, Ontario & Quebec).

This precautionary recall notification is being issued due one sample of Dole Italian salad which yielded a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes in a random sample test conducted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Although product is 1 day past its Use-By date and it is highly unlikely that any product is still available at retail, retailers should check their inventories and store shelves to confirm that none of the product is mistakenly present or available for purchase by consumers or in warehouse inventories. Dole Fresh Vegetables customer service representatives are already contacting retailers and are in the process of confirming that the recalled product is being removed from the stream of commerce.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause foodborne illness in a person who eats a food item contaminated with it. Symptoms of infection may include fever, muscle aches, gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea. The illness primarily impacts pregnant women and adults with weakened immune systems. Most healthy adults and children rarely become seriously ill.

Falafel King of Boulder, Colorado is voluntarily recalling 10-ounce containers of Hatch Green Chile Hummus and 8.5-ounce Hatch Green Chile Wraps because they may have been contaminated with Listeria.

The recalled products were distributed to retail stores in certain areas of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Nebraska.

The Hatch Green Chile Hummus comes in a 10-ounce clear plastic container with a black-rimmed lid, the UPC #822986-10305-2 printed on the back label and a “Sell By” dates between 02/14/2014 and 03/16/2014 printed just above the back label where the UPC / bar code is located.

The Hatch Green Chile Wraps are individually wrapped in clear plastic wrap, the UPC #822986-70205-7 printed on the front label and a sticker printed with “Sell By” 02/28 through 02/27 on the back of the package.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with the products. However, due to the time involved in tracing a foodborne illness back to a specific food product, it is impossible to say if any illnesses have occurred.

The recall was prompted by a notification from the fresh green chili supplier that there was a potential for the Listeria contamination.

On February 10, 2014, Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that can cause human illness, was isolated from a sample of Cuajada en Terron (Fresh Cheese Curd) collected by representatives from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.  The sample was collected at Mega Mart, a retail store located at 8328 Shopper’s Square, Manassas, VA 20111. The product was sold in clear, unlabeled plastic bags held in the retail cheese display cooler within the facility.

No lot or date coding information was included on the product packaging.  Individuals who purchased this product should not consume the cheese and should discard any remaining portions.  Those who have already consumed the product should be aware of the risks and symptoms associated with Listeria monocytogenes infection.

Virginia has not seen any reported cases of listeriosis associated with this cheese at this time. Listeria monocytogenes infection commonly can exhibit short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea when it affects healthy individuals. The Listeria monocytogenes organism may cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and individuals with weakened immune systems.  Listeria monocytogenes infection is a major concern for pregnant women because it can cause miscarriages, stillbirths and neonatal illness.

The consumption of unpasteurized or contaminated milk or cheeses can cause Listeria monocytogenes infections. Symptoms of Listeria infection generally appear about three weeks after exposure, but may appear as soon as three days or as long as 70 days after exposure.  Anyone who experiences the symptoms described above and has purchased and eaten the Cuajada en Terron cheese at Manassas Mega Mart, 8328 Shopper’s Square, Manassas, Virginia should see a doctor.

Bueno Foods has announced a voluntary recall of its frozen non-ready-to-eat green chile.

According to the company, the measure is being taken due to the possibilty of low levels of the listeria bacteria being present in the product.

In a press release, Bueno Foods President Jackie Baca said, “Bueno is taking this action because we are committed to providing a safe food supply to our customers.  We pride ourselves as having some of the highest health and safety standards in the industry and are taking this action as a precaution.”