Highest risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Bright Farms Southwest Chipotle Crunch Kit salad kit recall: Potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination

Recall published 2+ years ago

Potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination

Bright Farms Fresh produce — recalled fresh produceBright Farms Fresh produce — recalled fresh produce (photo 2)Bright Farms Fresh produce — recalled fresh produce (photo 3)
3 photos published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: Listeria contamination

Listeria is the reason this product was pulled, and it is the one food hazard where "it is still in date and it smells fine" tells you nothing at all.

What the notice says: Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Why it matters: Listeria monocytogenes is unusual among foodborne bacteria because it keeps growing at refrigerator temperature. A contaminated pack does not become safer for sitting in the cold, and it will look, smell and taste completely normal.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

Listeriosis is mild or silent in most healthy adults, but it is serious for pregnant people, newborns, adults over 65 and anyone whose immune system is suppressed. The CDC describes intestinal illness as diarrhoea and vomiting, and invasive illness as fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or convulsions. In pregnancy it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth or infection in the newborn even when the parent feels only mildly unwell. Symptoms can start within a day or not appear for weeks, so tell any doctor you see that you ate a recalled product and give them the date.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Published
February 8, 2024
Risk level
Highest risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Bright Farms
Product type
Fresh produce
Distribution
Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Vermont, Washington
UPC codes
850051825004

Products covered by this recall

Bright Farms Southwest Chipotle Crunch Kit salad kit

What the company announced

Irvington, New York (February 8, 2024) –– In response to a voluntary recall initiated by Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc. who produces and supplies cheese products, BrightFarms is voluntarily recalling its Southwest Chipotle salad kit with best-by-dates between 12/31/23 and 2/22/24 due to potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes in the Cotija Cheese, an ingredient found in the salad kit.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others 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 miscarriage and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The affected cheese product is contained in a fully enclosed and sealed plastic “masterpack” placed inside the kit and contains a best-by-date through 3/27/24. The product comes in a clear, plastic container. Information about the “best by” date, UPC can be found at the bottom of the package. Pictures to assist customers in identifying the recalled products are found at the end of this announcement.

Consumers who have purchased the affected products should dispose of the “masterpack” containing the Cotija cheese or discard the full salad kit and present a photo of the product, receipt, or reference their loyalty card history at their place of purchase for a full refund. Retailers have been instructed to remove all recalled products from store shelves.

The recalled products were distributed to retailers in the following states: Delaware, Maryland, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington D.C.

  • Product: BrightFarms Southwest Chipotle Crunch Kit · Ounce: 5.85oz · UPC Code: 8-50051-82500-4 · Best-By Date: 12/31/23 – 2/22/24

To date, we have received no confirmed reports of illness related to the BrightFarms product covered by this recall

As a result of today’s recall, the company has temporarily suspended distribution of the Southwest Chipotle salad kit.

Consumers with questions are encouraged to call 1-866-857-8745 between 8:00am-6:00pm EDT or email [email protected] with the subject line: Recall

FDA Outbreak Investigation

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

Check your product

The notice names 2 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

UPC / barcode

Read the twelve digits under the barcode on the package.

  • 850051825004

Package size

Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.

  • 5.85 oz

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Listeria

Bright Farms — Listeria is the reason this product was pulled, and it is the one food hazard where "it is still in date and it smells fine" tells you nothing at all.

  1. Do not eat it and do not open a sealed pack to inspect it — opening it only spreads the bacteria around your kitchen.
  2. Photograph the label, the lot code and the date mark before the pack leaves the house — that picture is what a refund claim runs on.
  3. Throw it out in a sealed bag, or return it to the store. Either is accepted; what matters is that nobody else eats it.
  4. Wash and then sanitise anything the food touched: the fridge shelf and drawer, chopping boards, knives, counters and your hands. Listeria colonises cold surfaces and can survive there after the food is gone.

How to get your money back

Food recalls carry a full refund, and in the United States you usually do not need the receipt or the packaging.

  • Take the product, or your photo of the label, to the customer service desk of the store where you bought it. Nearly every national grocer refunds recalled food on the spot.
  • Bought it online? Open the order in your account and use the refund option; marketplace sellers are required to honour a federal recall.
  • If the store refuses, contact the recalling company using the details on this page. The firm, not the shop, carries the cost of a recall.
  • If you have a loyalty card, the retailer can look the purchase up in your history — Kroger, Costco and Walmart all do this routinely.

Remedy named in the notice: Consumers who have purchased the affected products should dispose of the “masterpack” containing the Cotija cheese or discard the full salad kit and present a photo of the product, receipt, or reference their loyalty card history at their place of purchase for a full refund.

Company contact: BrightFarms, Inc. — Consumers: 1-866-857-8745, [email protected] — Media: [email protected]

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Bright Farms fresh produce recalled?

Potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: UPC 850051825004. If the code on your package is not on that list, your unit is outside the recall.

What should I do with it right now?

Do not eat it and do not open a sealed pack to inspect it — opening it only spreads the bacteria around your kitchen.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Consumers who have purchased the affected products should dispose of the “masterpack” containing the Cotija cheese or discard the full salad kit and present a photo of the product, receipt, or reference their loyalty card history at their place of purchase for a full refund.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Vermont, Washington.

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