Reser’s Recall – Original Recall
Reser’s Fine Foods manufactures, distributes and sells a variety of pre-prepared deli salad, side dish, entrée, dip, spread, snack, and dessert products. http://www.resers.com/. On October 22, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a Reser’s recall of about 109,000 cases of the company’s ready-to-eat refrigerated products. On that same date, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Information System (USDA FSIS) announced an additional Reser’s recall of about 28,000 lbs. of meat products. Both recall announcements were prompted by the risk that the products could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
Reser’s Recall – FSIS Recall
The FSIS Reser’s recall included products with the establishment numbers “EST. 13520” or “P-13520” printed inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were distributed to retailers and distributors in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. For a list of included products, visit the USDA FSIS recall announcement.
Reser’s Recall – FDA Recall
The FDA Reser’s recall included products that were distributed nationwide and to Canada, and were sold in retail and food-service establishments. The plant that is the source of the recalled products’ contamination is located in Topeka, Kansas. That plant’s code is 20 and is printed on the products’ packaging just after the “best-by” date. For a list of each specific food product involved in the recall, see the recall page on the FDA website.
Reser’s Recall – Recall Expansion
Reser’s voluntarily expanded the company’s original October 22 recall on October 26, 2013. The expanded recall covered more products and a wider expiration date range, which included all products produced from September 5th to October 9th. Some products included in the recall have expiration dates extending into April of 2014. The products are included in a full list on the FDA website. The source of the contamination was identified as cross-contamination from the products coming into contact with surfaces contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
Recalls by companies impacted by Reser’s recall have followed. On October 28th, 2013 Giant Eagle, Inc. voluntarily recalled Diced Summer Slaw, Diced Summer Salad, and Grab and Go combo meals that included Diced Summer Slaw. The products were available for purchase in the prepared foods and grab-and-go departments of Giant Eagle supermarkets located in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, and West Virginia. For more details on the specific recalled products, see the FDA Giant Eagle, Inc. recall Press Release.
On November 1, 2013, the FDA announced that Dutch Treat Salads, LLC was voluntarily recalling a single product, Mexicali Dip, because it contained one Reser’s product. The dip was sold bulk in 10-lb.cases to one Michigan distributor with a label name “Lipari Old Tyme.” That distributor sold the product in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan in 5-lb. bulk bags and 14 oz. containers under the label name “Dutch Treat Salads.” The “use-by” dates on the recalled products include 10/18/13 through 11/22/13.
Yet another expansion by Reser’s was announced on November 3, 2013. That expansion covered even more products. For that recent recall list, see the FDA recall update. This investigation is ongoing and the Merman Law Firm will stay informed as information continues to come in.
Reser’s Recall – Listeria Medical Treatment
The most common symptoms of Listeria infection are flu-like in nature. Symptoms of Listeria food poisoning usually arise twenty-four hours after ingestion and may persist for up to two days in healthy individuals. The onset of illness generally presents with diarrhea, but can also include fever, body aches, headaches, stiffness in the neck, loss of balance, disorientation and convulsions. Other gastrointestinal problems may develop from Listeria exposure, such as an overall irritation of the digestive tract. However, in healthy individuals, no symptoms may develop despite infection.
Individuals who are prone to infection may have longer-lasting and more complicated symptoms. Children, the elderly, and individuals with immune system deficiencies or disorders should be especially cautious. Pregnant women should be particularly careful to guard themselves against exposure to contaminated foods, because infection can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, and the development of a life-threatening infection in the newborn is possible. For more information on Listeria monocytogenes, visit our information page here.
Listeriosis can be treated with antibiotics, and antibiotic treatment may be required for individuals falling into one of the high-risk groups outlined above. Any illness possibly associated with the Reser’s recalled products should be taken seriously. If you or a loved one suspects you are suffering the symptoms of Listeriosis as a result of consuming Reser’s Fine Foods’ recalled products, seek medical attention immediately. Even if your condition is not life-threatening, blood and stool samples may be necessary to establish the source of your illness. Contact the food poisoning lawyers at the Law Firm for competent, compassionate representation.
