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Ca Rem #1 Coconut-flavored frozen dessert recalled after tests find Listeria

By Pritzker | Ruohonen

The Washington State Department of Agriculture has announced the recall of coconut-flavored frozen dessert manufactured by Ca Rem #1 Ice Cream, SeaTac.  Ca Rem #1 is voluntarily recalling its coconut-flavored, non-dairy frozen dessert due to possible Listeria contamination.

The Ca Rem #1 recall was initiated after routine sampling and analysis by the Washington State Department of Agriculture revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.  According to a story on  seattlepi.com (Seattle-Post  Intelligencer):

A Department of Agriculture inspector randomly selected the contaminated dessert Jan. 14 at Asian Planet Food Market in Kent as part of routine food testing, spokesman Jason Kelly said.

Test results returned eight days later showed it was contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a harmful bacterium. The Department of Agriculture determined the product's distribution area and initiated the recall Friday.

The dessert was made in Hillman City, where the retail and wholesale ice cream business was located until being licensed in SeaTac earlier this month, according to the Department of Agriculture.

Ca Rem #1 is owned by Jackie Bell, a Vietnam native who makes nondairy frozen desserts with coconut milk and fruit. She also owned Le Bambou, a now-defunct Vietnamese cafe in Hillman City.

The recalled Ca Rem #1 dessert is sold in 3 oz. un-coded plastic bags, primarily in Asian food markets and restaurants in western Washington and western Oregon.

No one has reported an illness related to this recall, but the incubation period for Listeria can be as long as 70 days.  Consumers who have purchased Ca Rem #1 desserts should throw out the product and not eat it.

“We continue to work with the company to recall all product that is still in stores,” said Claudia Coles, manager of WSDA’s Food Safety Program. “We know that these desserts can stay in freezers for months, so families should take a second look at what they’ve been saving for a special treat.”

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these bacteria may cause listeriosis, a food-borne illness. Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness, but infections during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn or even stillbirth.

To contact a Listeria attorney at Pritzker | Ruohonen, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm's free case consultation form.

Full post as published by Food Poisoning Law Blog on January 30, 2008 (boomark / email).