Canadians with a freezer full of frozen fruits and vegetables will likely be scouring through the products that could be included in one of the largest food recalls in recent memory.
More than 400 products from Washington-based CRF Frozen Foods have been recalled due to a possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
The products, which are sold under 42 different brands in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, were available in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
In Canada, it appears that Costco is the only major retailer that sells the products under the Organic by Nature Brand.
The expanded voluntary recall of frozen vegetables includes all of the frozen fruit and vegetable products manufactured or processed in CRF Frozen Foods' Pasco, Washington facility since May 1, 2014. All affected products have the best by dates or sell by dates between April 26, 2016 and April 26, 2018.
Among the recalled products that the FDA has confirmed were sold in Canada are:
- Organic by Nature Organic Butternut Squash, 2kg package, UPC 4635800067
- Organic by Nature Organic Sweet Peas, 2.5 kg package, UPC 4635800061
- Organic by Nature Organic Vegetable Medley, 2.5 kg package, UPC 4635800062
A full list of the recalled products is available here.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says recalled products should either be thrown out or returned to where they were purchased.
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled, but it can still cause some individuals to fall ill. Symptoms of Listeria include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk.