Some Trader Joe's, Green Giant, Signature Farms vegetables recalled due to listeria concerns

SALINAS, Calif. — Concerns over possible listeria contamination have prompted a California-based vegetable company to recall a variety of packaged fresh vegetables sold in 30 states, the Food and Drug Administration announced Monday.

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Growers Express is recalling packaged varieties of butternut squash, cauliflower, zucchini and a butternut squash-based veggie bowl due to the possibility that they were contaminated with listeria monocytogenes, the Salinas-based company said in a recall notice. Company officials said no illnesses have been reported in connection to the recalled veggies.

The vegetables were sold under the Green Giant Fresh, Trader Joe's and Signature Farms brands names and shipped to several states, including Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee.

>> Read the recall notice from Growers Express

Among other items, the recalled products include:

• 1-pound packages of Green Giant Fresh Cauliflower Crumbles "Fried Rice" Blend
• 10.5-ounce packages of Green Giant Fresh
• 10.5-ounce packages of Trader Joe's Butternut Squash Spirals and Zucchini Spirals
• 1-pound packages of Signature Farms Cauliflower Crumbles

Most of the vegetables that fall under the recall have a "Best If Used By" date between June 26 and June 29, according to Growers Express. The company said anyone who bought the affected vegetables or who bought any of the recalled varieties without a legible "Best If Used By" date throw the products away.

The recall was issued after officials with the Massachusetts Department of Health notified the company that one of its products tested positive for listeria, Growers Express president Tom Byrne said Monday. The affected vegetable had come out of a Growers Express production facility in Biddeford, Maine.

"The safety of our consumers is our first priority," Byrne said in the company's recall announcement, noting that production at the Maine facility was stopped immediately after the company was made aware of the positive listeria test. "We are deep sanitizing the entire facility and our line equipment, as well as conducting continued testing on top of our usual battery of sanitation and quality and safety tests before resuming production."

Listeria can cause severe headaches, high fevers and stiffness, among other symptoms. The bacteria can be deadly for young children, frail or elderly people and those with weakened immune systems.

Cox Media Group