Sunrich Naturals sunflower kernelsThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted three more recalls of food items containing sunflower kernels. Two of the recalls were posted Tuesday, May 24, and another was posted May 20. All three of the recalling firms indicated that no related illnesses have been reported to date. The two most recent recalls involve a variety of snack items shipped to foodservice distributors, food banks and school meals programs by ES Foods of Woodbury, NY, and 50-pound bags and 30-pound cases of sunflower kernels distributed to four states by C.J. Dannemiller Co. of Norton, OH. ES Foods ES Foods stated that it was recalling 3,700 cases of the following Meal Breaks items containing individually packed Sunrich Natural Sunflower Kernels (Roasted & Salted), Net Wt 1 oz., because the sunflower seeds have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes:

Meal Breaks Lot # Best Used By Item #
Cheese Stick w/ Beef Stick 6111 11/11/16 61406
6124 09/02/16 12/10/16
Cheese Sauce 6126 03/01/17 61410
Cheese Stick 6112 12/09/16 61418
Chips & Dip 6116 12/01/16 61419
Lime Bean Dippers 6112 10/26/16 61420
Cheese Cup 6116 01/15/17 61430
Frosted Flakes w/Cheese Stick 6112 09/19/16 61438
Cinnamon Pop Tarts 6112 12/10/16 61439
PBJ w/Milk 6125 01/11/17 61602
Tuna Salad w/Milk 6126 02/09/17 61603
BBQ Chicken w/Milk 6125 02/09/17 61605

  The Meal Breaks were distributed in CA, KS, KY, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA and WI to foodservice distributors, food banks, and school meal programs, between the dates of April 21 and May 13, 2016, according to the ES Foods recall notice. Products are packed in a master case, and that master case contains the product code number, product description, “Best Used By” Date, and lot code. ES Foods stated that the potential for contamination was noted after the company received notification from SunOpta, its sunflower kernel supplier, about positive Listeria monocytogenes results. Customers with questions may contact ES Foods at 516-682-5484, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time. C.J. Dannemiller Co. The second recall was announced by C.J. Dannemiller Co., which is recalling SunOpta 50-pound bags and 30-pound cases of sunflower kernels roasted and salted and sunflower kernels roasted no salt because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria.

The company stated that the recalled Sun Opta Roasted Sunflower kernels roasted and salted and Sun Opta Roasted No Salt were distributed in AR, VA, IN and MI in bulk packaging between Feb. 22, 2016 and May 17, 2016. The product comes in a 50-lb. white paper bag marked with the lot codes: 8B6M17, 8D6M12, 8D6M11. The lot code is located on the top center of the bag or in a 30-lb. brown corrugated case with MFG DATE of 3/21/16 or 3/28/16. MFG DATE is on the product label. Production of the product has been suspended while FDA and the company continue their investigation into the source of the problem, according to the recall notice. Consumers who have purchased 50-lbs. bags of the recalled product are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-624-8671, Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time.

Hickory Harvest Foods The third posted recall is an expanded one from Hickory Harvest Foods of Akron, OH. The company stated that, under advice from SunOpta, its sunflower kernel supplier, it was expanding its recall of a limited number of products that have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  These recalled items are in addition to the food items Hickory Harvest recalled on May 4, 2016. The additional products were packaged at, or distributed from, Hickory Harvest between the dates of April 20, 2016 and May 18, 2016. Shipments were to the following states: AR, AZ, CA, CT, FL, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, TX and VA. Recalled retail items were sold in packaged bags and deli tubs and are marked with Best By Dates located on the front or back of the packages. Listed below are details regarding the additional recalled items:

Product Description Size UPC Best By Date
Big Y Cranberry Nut Trail 20 oz 0-18894-00457-8 02/09/17
Hickory Harvest Cranberry Fitness Car Cup 7 oz 0-36232-06136-6 02/04/17
Hickory Harvest Roasted Salted Sunflower Kernel Car Cup 7 oz 0-36232-07716-9 02/03/17 02/05/17
Hickory Harvest Roasted Salted Sunflower Kernel 11 oz 0-36232-07702-2 05/02/17
Amish Farms Roasted Salted Sunflower Kernel 5.5 oz 8-55993-20018-6 04/20/17
Raylicious Roasted Salted Sunflower Kernels 1.5 oz 8-55291-00192-8 05/20/17
Liberty Roasted Salted Sunflower Kernels 3 oz 6-08819-35672-3 05/02/17 05/21/17 05/25/17
Sheetz Roasted Salted Sunflower Kernels 3.5 oz 7-59465-00784-9 04/20/17 04/25/17 05/02/17 05/03/17
Hickory Harvest Sweet and Salty Trail Car Cup 6 oz 0-36232-00511-7 01/20/17 01/21/17

  Previously recalled items from Hickory Harvest are listed below:

Product Description Size UPC Best By Date
Hickory Harvest Roasted Salted Sunflower Kernel 10 oz 0-36232-07703-9 11/18/16 01/07/17 01/08/17
Hickory Harvest Roasted No Salt Sunflower Kernel 10 oz 0-36232-07707-9 11/16/16 01/21/17
Hickory Harvest Roasted Salted Sunflower Kernel 7 oz 0-36232-07716-9 11/25/16 12/29/16
Hickory Harvest Roasted Salted Sunflower Kernel 11 oz 0-36232-07702-2 01/11/17
Hickory Harvest Roasted Salted Sunflower Kernel 5 oz 0-36232-07704-6 11/25/16 12/28/16 12/29/16
IM Good Roasted Salted Sunflower Kernel 1.6 oz 7-93724-80218-9 04/29/17
Sheetz Roasted Salted Sunflower Kernel 3.5 oz 7-59465-00784-9 03/01/17
Raylicious Roasted Salted Sunflower Kernel 1.5 oz 8-55291-00192-8 04/14/17 04/15/17
Liberty Roasted Sunflower Kernel 3 oz 6-08819-35672-3 04/16/17 04/29/17
Heinens Roasted Salted Sunflower Kernel 10 oz 0-36232-07703-9 12/28/16
Heinens Roasted No Salted Sunflower Kernel 10 oz 0-36232-07707-7 01/21/17 12/15/16
Amish Farms Roasted Salted Sunflower Kernel 5.5 oz 8-55993-20018-6 02/25/17

  Consumers are urged not to consume these products but are advised to take them back to the store where they purchased them for a refund or to simply discard them. Consumers seeking information may email askus2@hickoryharvest.com or call 1-800-448-6887, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time. These latest recalls of sunflower kernels, or food products containing them, are part of about two dozen such recalls FDA has announced since the first week of May. 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.

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