A Pennsylvania company is recalling three brands of its frozen corn that were distributed to 15 states because a package sampled from a retail store tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Cambridge Farms LLC of Lancaster, PA, has ceased the production and distribution of the frozen corn and is working with the Food and Drug Administration to find out what caused the problem, according to the recall notice posted early this evening.
Three brands — Laura Lynn, Key Food and Better Valu — are included in the recall. There is concern that consumers may have the product in their home freezers because of its long shelf life, which reaches well into 2018. The recalled corn can be identified by specific information on the back of retail packages. Laura Lynn frozen cut corn in 16-ounce plastic bags with the UPC number 8685401734 and any of the following codes:
- SWFF/R10312, Best by 4/11/18
- SWFFR/10452, Best by 5/09/18
- SWFF/R10609, Best by 6/6/18
Laura Lynn frozen cut corn in 32-ounce plastic bags with the UPC number 8685401717 and code SWFF/R 10482, Best by 5/10/18 Key Food frozen cut corn in 16-ounce plastic bags with the UPC number 7329607091 and either of the following codes:
- SWFF/R10320, Best by 4/11/18
- SWFF/R10405, Best by 5/2/18
Better Valu frozen cut corn in 14-ounce plastic bags with the UPC number 7980124561 and code SWFF/R10308, Best by 4/11/18 The recalled corn was distributed to 15 states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland and Florida. Cambridge Farms initiated the recall after receiving results from a routine sampling program by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture that revealed that the finished product they sampled from a retail store contained the bacteria. “Consumers who have purchased any of the above items are urged to not consume it and to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund,” according to the recall notice. “Consumers with questions may contact the company at 717-945-5178.” Listeria monocytogenes is a microscopic organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and people 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. (To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)
