Highest risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Nature's Wonder Mung Bean Sprouts recall: Listeria monocytogenes

Recall published 2+ years ago

Listeria monocytogenes

Nature's Wonder Fresh produce — recalled fresh produceNature's Wonder Fresh produce — recalled fresh produce (photo 2)Nature's Wonder 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

Because the organism here is Listeria, the recall is about where the food has been rather than how it looks today. Treat an affected pack as contaminated even if it is sealed and in date.

What the notice says: Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which 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
December 15, 2023
Risk level
Highest risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Nature's Wonder
Product type
Fresh produce
Distribution
Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York
Sold at
Sprouts
Reports of harm
No illnesses have been reported to date.

Products covered by this recall

Mung Bean Sprouts

What the company announced

Chang Farm, Whatley, MA is recalling 12 oz Nature’s Wonder Mung Bean Sprouts, with the sell-by date of December 13th, 2023 because of the presence of Listeria monocytogenes (L. Monocytogenes) .

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which 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 headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The product has been distributed to retail stores and wholesalers throughout MA, CT, NY and MD.

The affected product is packaged in 12 oz plastic bags (retail), ( the code for the product is 12/13 present in the back inside the white box) labeled under the Chang Farm Brand as Nature’s Wonder Premium Bean Sprouts and have a “Sell By” date of December 13th, 2023.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recall was initiated after a random sample was collected and analyzed by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), which resulted in confirmation of presence Listeria Monocytogenes in the product. Further analysis of the sample by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed the same. The company has actively started investigating the root cause of the problem. All retail stores and wholesalers who have this lot in MA, CT, NY and MD should remove this product from their shelves. Consumers should not consume the products and should discard this product or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers should contact their healthcare provider with any illness concerns. Consumers with questions about the warning may contact Chang Farm at 413-522-0234 or 413-222-5519 which will be monitored 24 hours EST from Monday – Sunday.

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 1 code you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

Package size

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

  • 12 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

Nature's Wonder — Because the organism here is Listeria, the recall is about where the food has been rather than how it looks today. Treat an affected pack as contaminated even if it is sealed and in date.

  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. 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.
  3. If anyone in the household is pregnant, over 65 or immunocompromised, call a clinician for advice even if nobody feels ill. That conversation is quick and it is the whole point of a Listeria recall.
  4. 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.

Refunds, and what else you can claim

The purchase price is the floor, not the ceiling. Where a recall caused you a real cost, say so.

  • Claim the refund at the store first; it is the fastest route and needs the least paperwork.
  • If you bought several packs over time, list them. Firms routinely settle for more than a single unit when a customer asks.
  • Medical costs, lost earnings or a spoiled event are not handled at the service desk. Write to the company contact on this page instead, with dates and documents.
  • Keep copies of everything you send. If a recall caused harm, that file is what any later claim rests on.

Remedy named in the notice: Consumers should not consume the products and should discard this product or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Company contact: Chang Farm — Consumers: Chang Farm, 413-522-0234

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 Nature's Wonder fresh produce recalled?

Listeria monocytogenes Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which 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?

The notice does not publish package codes for this recall. Compare the product name, size and the purchase window against the official FDA — Company recall announcements record, and contact the company if you are unsure.

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 should not consume the products and should discard this product or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York.

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