If you’re looking to whip up a batch of kale dip or toss some kale into the blender to make a superfood pesto for your pasta, then you might want to rethink the choice of greens.
There has been an announced recall from Kroger who is pulling its kale products. However, this recall could also affect other items as well.
The announcement was made on the 16th of September by Baker Farms, who recalled its 16-ounce bags of kale. These bags, in addition to their one-pound bags of kale, are sent off under the brand names of Baker Farms, SEG Grocers, and Kroger.
The recall is due to a potential listeria contamination, caused in particular by Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria known to cause serious infections, which can be particularly deadly amongst kids, the elderly, and people with compromised or weakened immune systems.
The kale recall was a result of the company becoming aware of a potential problem when a customer contacted them regarding some kale that had tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.
This affected the kale that was distributed between August 30 and September 1, which were packed in clear plastic bags that were shipped to the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, and Virginia. It was later updated to add the states of Ohio and Kansas to the list but removed Louisiana.
There weren’t any illnesses reported, but consumers were warned to look out for symptoms that included high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea. It also made a point to warn pregnant women about the dangers as an infection with Listeria monocytogenes can lead to miscarriages or stillbirths.
For the latest and up-to-date notices, you can check out the Food and Drug Administration website. There you will find the product and UPC codes to know if you happen to have picked up a recalled product. If you have or you think you have, you’re advised to toss it out or return it to the store where it was purchased. If you have any further questions or concerns, you can reach out to Richard G. Baker at richard@bakerfamilyproduce.com or (229) 769-3113 Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. EST.