CRF Frozen Foods of Pasco, Washington, has announced a recall of all of its products, which may be tainted with the listeria bacteria. CRF originally recalled eleven products in April, but the new announcement covers all of CRF’s products made from May 2014 to the present, ranging from corn and kale to strawberries and sweet potatoes.
CRF’s products are sold in all 50 states and some parts of Canada, in stores such as Trader Joe’s, Safeway, and Costco. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is investigating eight cases of listeria in three states, several of which have been linked to CRF frozen fruits and vegetables. Two people have died as a result of the listeria outbreak.
This situation is especially frightening because unlike many bacteria, listeria can survive and even grow in freezing temperatures. So once a package of frozen food is infected with listeria, it can remain dangerous for years. Being sure to cook frozen vegetables thoroughly can help alleviate the risk.
Listeria produces symptoms including fever, headaches, nausea, fatigue, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. It is not usually fatal to healthy people but it can be deadly to people with compromised immune systems, pregnant women, and the elderly. The CDC says that listeria causes 1,600 illnesses and 260 deaths annually nationwide.
A complete list of the products covered by the recall is available online.