Essex Farm Inc. (doing business as Best Farm) in New York City has recalled packages of soybean sprouts after routine testing by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Market food inspectors found that the product was contaminated with Listeria.

The recalled sprouts were purchased in bulk and repacked on Styrofoam trays wrapped with plastic.  The sprouts were sold only at Best Farm’s Essex Street retail store in New York City. Customers were advised to return the sprouts to the store or discard them.

Listeria-contaminated products can cause mild flu-like symptoms in healthy individuals but can lead to meningitis and blood poisoning in immune-compromised people.  Pregnant women are considered a high-risk group because Listeria can also result in stillbirths.