Vegetable Recall Update: State Alert as FDA Determines Highest Risk Level

Several plant-based products recalled in July because they may have been contaminated with bacteria have been placed in the highest possible risk category by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

A total of 19 Supreme Produce products were recalled after the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) discovered “possible contamination with Listeria Monocytogenes.”

Now the FDA has assigned many of these products – located throughout Indiana – a Class I risk level, which is given in “a situation where there is a reasonable likelihood that use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse effects to will cause health. consequences or death.”

The Class I products include Supreme Grilling Veggies 19 OZ (with UPC 8-50053-68584), Supreme Vegetable Kabobs 27 OZ (UPC 8-50053-68585), Supreme Vegetable Bowl 26 OZ (UPC 8-60010-50713), Supreme Peppers Tri Blend 8 OZ (UPC 8-50053-68534), Supreme Diced Jalapenos 7 OZ (UPC 8-50053-68536), Supreme Peppers with Onions 7 OZ (UPC 8-50053-68538) and Supreme Peppers Snacking 12 OZ ( UPC-8-50053-68553).

These products were distributed in Kroger stores in Indiana and were voluntarily recalled by Supreme.

The products Grilling Vegetables 19 oz, Snacking Peppers 12 oz, Vegetable Bowl 26 oz and Vegetable Kabob 27 oz all have a best before date from 11-07-2024 to 26-07-2024, while the diced Jalapeno 7 oz, diced Pepper W/ White Onions 7 oz and Diced Pepper Tri-Blend 7 oz products have expiration dates from 7/9/2024 to 7/24/2024.

Newsweek reached out to Kroger and GBC Food Services, affiliated with Supreme Service Solutions LLC, for comment.

“Supreme Service Solutions LLC. (dba Supreme Produce) is assisting with a Kroger Store recall for items purchased from Weirs Farm Inc. (purchased from Kroger Stores) due to possible Listeria Monocytogenes contamination,” the FDA said in the original recall notice in July .

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause a serious infection when people consume contaminated food. Unlike many other bacteria, Listeria can grow in low temperatures, including refrigeration, which makes it particularly dangerous because it can thrive in foods that are typically kept cold.

In healthy adults, Listeria can cause mild symptoms such as fever, diarrhea and muscle aches. Infections can be more serious for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, newborns, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.

“Listeria monocytogenesan organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems,” the FDA explained. “Although healthy individuals may have only short-lived symptoms, such as high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.”

Fortunately, no illnesses have been reported as a result of consuming these products.

“Consumers should not consume and discard the product. The product(s) in question are past their expiration date and should already be out of distribution, but if consumers have a product they are unsure about, do not consume it, but discard I’d rather leave it.” FDA explains.

The original recall also included other products, such as diced pumpkin, chopped cilantro, pico de gallo and salsa, but these were not assigned a risk level. These products were distributed in Kroger stores in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio. In addition, several of the company’s guacamole products were assigned a Class I risk level.

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