Health Law

Another food recall: Sangar (from Texas) Fresh Cut Produce

By Drew Falkenstein

The Texas Department of State Health Services today ordered Sangar Fresh Cut Produce in San Antonio to stop processing food and recall all products shipped from the plant since January. Ironic timing for this recall.  One of our lawyers or epidemiologist, Patti Waller, is speaking to health departments and industry nationally about half the days every year.  Today, it's Patti, and she's en route to Texas right now to speak to the Texas Environmental Health Association. 

Back to companies behaving badly though.  The Texas Department of Health's order today was issued after laboratory tests of chopped celery from the plant indicated the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.  The order states:

State law allows DSHS to issue such orders when conditions exist that pose 'an immediate and serious threat to human life or health.'

The recalled products – primarily cut fresh produce in sealed packages – were distributed to restaurants and institutional entities, such as hospitals and schools, and are not believed to be sold in grocery stores.

The testing was done as part of a DSHS investigation into 10 listeriosis cases, including five deaths, reported to the department over an eight-month period. Six of the 10 cases have been linked to chopped celery from the Sangar plant. The illnesses occurred in Bexar, Travis and Hidalgo counties. All of the illnesses were in people with serious underlying health problems.

Health officials said pinpointing a Listeria source is often difficult due to the small number of cases, the illness' long incubation period and difficulty collecting complete information about what people ate.

DSHS inspectors also found sanitation issues at the plant and believe the Listeria found in the chopped celery may have contaminated other food produced there. The department found a condensation leak above a food product area, soil on a preparation table and hand washing issues. DSHS food safety personnel are contacting distributors, restaurants and institutions believed to have received the recalled products to ensure they are taking appropriate action to protect consumers.

DSHS continues to investigate possible sources of contamination and where the products were distributed. Sangar's customers are advised to discard or return the products. Cooking the products is not recommended.

For more information about Listeria, see www.about-listeria.com.

Full post as published by Food Poison Blog on October 20, 2010 (boomark / email).