Massive recall of frozen food in US due to listeria outbreak
An outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes linked to foods packaged by a processing plant in Washington has resulted in a huge recall of frozen fruits and vegetables marketed under 42 brand names, reflecting the increased severity of the outbreak of the life-threatening disease. CRF Frozen Foods has voluntarily recalled 350 frozen foods that were sold in all 50 states and in Canada. Some of the affected products include Earth's Pride, Panda Express, Signature Kitchens and Trader Joe's. Furthermore, sunflower-seed products have also been recalled again over fears of Listeria contamination, though no illnesses have been directly linked to the products: Planters, Sunrich Naturals and Papa John's Salads are included in the recall. This is the latest in in America's ongoing problems with dealing with listeria in its food products, with studies revealing that changes in food production in recent decades have increased the likelihood of contaminated foods being widely distributed.

An outbreak of a life-threatening illness that has been linked to foods packaged by a processing plant in Washington State has prompted a large-scale voluntary recall of frozen fruits and vegetables marketed under 42 brand names.

The scale of the recall reflects the severity of the outbreak of the illness, listeria, and of concerns about how the contaminated food might have “trickled down” into other products, said Brittany Behm, a spokeswoman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The processing plant, CRF Frozen Foods in Pasco, Wash., has voluntarily recalled more than 350 frozen foods — including carrots, onions, peaches and strawberries — that were sold in all 50 states and Canada. The recall began on April 23, with 11 frozen vegetables, but was significantly expanded on May 2.

Eight people sickened with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes have been confirmed since 2013 — six in California and one each in Maryland and Washington, Ms. Behm said. All of the cases, involving patients 56 to 86 years old, resulted in hospitalizations.