FDA Expands Sunflower Kernel Recall

Production of the product has been suspended while FDA and the company continue their investigation into the source of the problem, according to the recall notice.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted three more recalls of food items containing sunflower kernels.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted three more recalls of food items containing sunflower kernels.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted three more recalls of food items containing sunflower kernels, according to Food Safety News. Two of the recalls were posted Tuesday, May 24, and another was posted May 20. All three of the recalling firms indicated that no related illnesses have been reported to date.

The two most recent recalls involve a variety of snack items shipped to foodservice distributors, food banks and school meals programs by ES Foods of Woodbury, N.Y., and 50-pound bags and 30-pound cases of sunflower kernels distributed to four states by C.J. Dannemiller Co. of Norton, Ohio.

ES Foods stated that it was recalling 3,700 cases of the following Meal Breaks items containing individually packed Sunrich Natural Sunflower Kernels (Roasted & Salted), Net Wt 1 oz., because the sunflower seeds have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes:

The Meal Breaks were distributed in California, Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin to foodservice distributors, food banks, and school meal programs, between the dates of April 21 and May 13, 2016, according to the ES Foods recall notice.

Products are packed in a master case, and that master case contains the product code number, product description, “Best Used By” Date, and lot code.

ES Foods stated that the potential for contamination was noted after the company received notification from SunOpta, its sunflower kernel supplier, about positive Listeria monocytogenes results.

The second recall was announced by C.J. Dannemiller Co., which is recalling SunOpta 50-pound bags and 30-pound cases of sunflower kernels roasted and salted and sunflower kernels roasted no salt because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria.

The company stated that the recalled Sun Opta Roasted Sunflower kernels roasted and salted and Sun Opta Roasted No Salt were distributed in Arkansas, Virginia, Indiana and Michigan in bulk packaging between Feb. 22, 2016, and May 17, 2016.

The product comes in a 50-lb. white paper bag marked with the lot codes: 8B6M17, 8D6M12, 8D6M11. The lot code is located on the top center of the bag or in a 30-lb. brown corrugated case with MFG DATE of 3/21/16 or 3/28/16. MFG DATE is on the product label.

Production of the product has been suspended while FDA and the company continue their investigation into the source of the problem, according to the recall notice.

Consumers who have purchased 50-lbs. bags of the recalled product are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-624-8671, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time.

The third posted recall is an expanded one from Hickory Harvest Foods of Akron, Ohio. The company stated that, under advice from SunOpta, its sunflower kernel supplier, it was expanding its recall of a limited number of products that have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  These recalled items are in addition to the food items Hickory Harvest recalled on May 4, 2016.

The additional products were packaged at, or distributed from, Hickory Harvest between the dates of April 20, 2016, and May 18, 2016. Shipments were to the following states: Arkansas, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virgina.

Consumers are urged not to consume these products but are advised to take them back to the store where they purchased them for a refund or to simply discard them. Consumers seeking information may email [email protected] or call 1-800-448-6887, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time.

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