According to the CDC, as of September 20, 2012, a total of 15 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from 12 states and the District of Columbia.

The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: California (1), Colorado (1), District of Columbia (1), Maryland (3), Minnesota (1), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (1), New Mexico (1), New York (1), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (1), Virginia (1), and Washington (1).

All 15 ill persons were hospitalized. Three deaths have been reported. Listeriosis contributed to at least one of these deaths.

Collaborative investigation efforts of local, state, and federal public health and regulatory agencies indicate that imported ricotta salata cheese is the likely source of this outbreak. On September 10, 2012, Forever Cheese, Inc. voluntarily recalled one lot of Marte brand Frescolina ricotta salata cheese due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Peterson Company also is recalling Ricotta Salata Frescolina brand cheese that came from its supplier Forever Cheese of Long Island City, NY.

Lunds and Byerly’s have recalled some chicken products because of a potential for contamination with a dangerous strain of listeria, the grocery chain reported Thursday.

Listeria monocytoges was found in a recent supply of poultry used to make marinated chicken breasts, chicken kabobs and chicken meal kits, prompting the grocery chain to alert the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

The recall is strictly a cautionary measure, the company said. No illnesses have been reported.

Products included in the recall are:

• Lunds and Byerly’s marinated chicken breasts, including Tuscan Chicken Breasts, Northwoods Chicken Breasts, Lemon Herb Chicken Breasts, Applewood Chipotle Chicken Breasts, Chimichurri Chicken Breasts and Raspberry Chicken Breasts.

• Lunds and Byerly’s kabobs, including Cajun Fireball Chicken Kabobs, Tuscan Kabobs, Northwoods Chicken Kabobs and Raspberry Chicken Kabobs.

• Lunds and Byerly’s Great Food Fast Meal Kits, including Applewood Chicken & Maple Bean, Tuscan Chicken Risotto, Northwood Chicken & Cheddar Mac, Chimichurri Chicken & Roasted Corn Pilaf and Raspberry Chicken & Wild Rice.

The listeria issue was discovered after the company had samples tested by an independent, third-party lab as it developed a new line of chicken offerings.

Screen Shot 2012-09-20 at 7.49.30 AM.pngThe Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) Family of Stores in 15 states is asking customers to check their refrigerators for certain Kroger Fresh Selections Tender Spinach 10 ounce packages (UPC: 0001111091649) with a “best if used by” date of September 16.

This product, supplied by NewStar Fresh Foods LLC, is being recalled because the product may contain Listeria monocytogenes. Customers should return the items to stores for a full refund or a replacement. Customers can visit www.kroger.com/recall for more information.

Stores under the following names in 15 states are included in this recall:

Kroger stores in Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, central and eastern Tennessee, and Michigan.

Kroger, Jay C, Owen’s, Pay Less, Scott’s and Food 4 Less stores in Indiana, Illinois and eastern Missouri.

Dillons, Baker’s, and Gerbes stores in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.

Stores the company operates under the following names are not included in this recall: Fry’s, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, QFC, Smith’s, King Soopers, City Market and Food 4 Less/Foods Co. in California.

Three deaths reported.

Collaborative investigation efforts of local, state, and federal public health and regulatory agencies indicate that imported ricotta salata cheese is the likely source of this outbreak. On September 10, 2012, Forever Cheese, Inc. recalled one lot of Frescolina brand ricotta salata cheese due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

As of September 11, 2012, a total of 14 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from 11 states and the District of Columbia.

The cheese was sold to distributors for retailers and restaurants in California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington between June 20, 2012 and August 9, 2012.

The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: California (1), Colorado (1), District of Columbia (1), Maryland (3), Minnesota (1), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (1), New Mexico (1), New York (1), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (1), and Virginia (1). All 14 ill persons have been hospitalized. Three deaths have been reported.

ucm318848.jpegForever Cheese inc. is recalling all Ricotta Salata Frescolina brand, Forever Cheese lot # T9425 and/or production code 441202, from one specific production date due to possible Listeria Monocytogenes contamination, 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 cheese was sold to distributors for retailers and restaurants in CA, CO, D.C., FL, GA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MT, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OR, PA, VA, WA between June 20 and August 9, 2012. Products were sold to supermarkets, restaurants and wholesale distributors.

The cheese in question is Ricotta Salata brand Frescolina from one production date coded 441202 on the original wheel. There have been 14 reported illnesses in 11 states which may be related to this.

Harris Teeter grocery stores are recalling eight seafood products that may be contaminated with Listeria bacteria.

The bacteria, which can cause serious or life-threatening illness, are most commonly found in raw foods. Symptoms of illness may include fever, muscle aches, nausea or diarrhea.

Harris Teeter said it was told by its manufacturer 3 Fish, Inc. that certain crab and lobster products contain onions that may be contaminated with Listeria.

Customers who may have purchased the following products between Sept. 3 and Sept. 7 are asked to return them to a Harris Teeter store for a full refund:

• Crab Stuffed Flounder, UPC #0020822400000

• Crab Stuffed Salmon, UPC #0020822500000

• Crab Stuffed Tilapia, UPC #0020822600000

• Maryland Style Crab Cakes, 4 oz, UPC #0020967400000

• Deviled Stuffed Crab, UPC #0020966700000

• The Charleston Crab Cake, 4 oz, UPC #0020966900000

• Signature Lump Crab Cake, 4 oz, UPC #0020967000000

• Signature Lobster Cake, 3 oz, UPC #0020967100000

After the final update on December 8, investigators learned that a Listeria isolate that had been isolated from a sample of cut cantaloupe from a patient’s home during the outbreak investigation had a PFGE pattern combination that was different from the four known pattern combinations in the outbreak. A search of the PulseNet database for matching DNA fingerprint patterns from isolates collected during the outbreak time period identified one human matching isolate. The person from whom the Listeria was isolated reported eating cantaloupe before becoming ill; this case was added to the case count.

A total of 147 persons infected with any of the five outbreak-associated subtypes of Listeria monocytogenes were reported to CDC from 28 states. The number of infected persons identified in each state was as follows: Alabama (1), Arkansas (1), California (4), Colorado (40), Idaho (2), Illinois (4), Indiana (3), Iowa (1), Kansas (11), Louisiana (2), Maryland (1), Missouri (7), Montana (2), Nebraska (6), Nevada (1), New Mexico (15), New York (2), North Dakota (2), Oklahoma (12), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (1), South Dakota (1), Texas (18), Utah (1), Virginia (1), West Virginia (1), Wisconsin (2), and Wyoming (4).

Among persons for whom information was available, reported illness onset ranged from July 31, 2011 through October 27, 2011. Ages ranged from <1 to 96 years, with a median age of 78 years. Most ill persons were over 60 years old. Fifty-eight percent of ill persons were female. Among the 145 ill persons with available information on whether they were hospitalized, 143 (99%) were hospitalized. Thirty-three outbreak-associated deaths were reported: Colorado (9), Indiana (1), Kansas (3), Louisiana (2), Maryland (1), Missouri (3), Montana (1), Nebraska (1), New Mexico (5), New York (2), Oklahoma (1), Texas (2), and Wyoming (2). Among persons who died, ages ranged from 48 to 96 years, with a median age of 81 years. In addition, one woman pregnant at the time of illness had a miscarriage. Ten deaths not attributed to listeriosis occurred among persons who had been infected with an outbreak-associated subtype. State and local public health officials reviewed causes of death listed on death certificates to determine whether to attribute these deaths to listeriosis. Deaths included in this review occurred as recently as February 29, 2012.

Seven of the illnesses were related to a pregnancy; three were diagnosed in newborns and four were diagnosed in pregnant women. One miscarriage was reported.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Odra Deli and Wholesale Meat Ltd. are warning the public not to consume Krakowska Sausage described below because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The affected product, Krakowska Sausage, was sliced and sold to customers in variable weight packages from the deli counter at the Odra Deli and Wholesale Meat Ltd. in Mississauga, ON during August 9 to 20, 2012, inclusive.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these bacteria may cause listeriosis, a foodborne illness. Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness, however, infections during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.

The manufacturer, Odra Deli and Wholesale Meat Ltd., Mississauga, ON is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace.

Screen Shot 2012-08-23 at 8.47.20 PM.pngSpence & Co. Ltd. of Brockton said Wednesday that the Listeria bacterium was discovered during routine sampling. No illnesses have been reported.

The firm is recalling the Wellsley Farms brand smoked salmon nova sold in 16-ounce packages through BJ’s Wholesale Club in Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Ohio on June 13.

The company is also recalling and Spencer and Co. Ltd. brand smoked salmon trim sold in 8-ounce packages in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Colorado, Wyoming and Utah between June 22 and 29. It was distributed through grocery chain Krogers Co. and its King Soopers brand.

The packages bear lot number 6704701.

Screen Shot 2012-08-23 at 1.24.30 PM.pngDole Fresh Vegetables is voluntarily recalling 1,039 cases of bagged salad. The product being recalled is 10 oz. Dole Italian Blend coded 0049N2202008, with a Use-By date of August 20 and UPC 7143000819 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 eight U.S. states (Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Mississippi and Virginia). No illnesses have been reported in association with the recall. This recall notification is being issued due to an isolated instance in which a sample of Dole Italian Blend salad yielded a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes in a random sample test conducted by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture.

No other salads are included in the recall. Only the specific product codes, UPC codes and August 20, 2012 Use-By date identified above are included in the recall.

Although the product is 2 days 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 not in 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.