Frozen veg recall ripples through supply chain to J.R. Simplot, Dutch Treat Foods

Dutch Treat Foods Inc. issued a recall Tuesday for more than 3,000 pounds of Sweet Pea Pasta Salad because of potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, saying its supplier recalled one of the salad ingredients.

The supplier, J.R. Simplot Co. notified its customers June 14 it was recalling bulk-shipped frozen peas and mixed vegetables after its own supplier — whom Simplot did not name — notified it of a recall because of Listeria monocytogenes.

The so-called downstream recalls come in the wake of two massive frozen vegetable recalls initiated April 23 and June 17, by CRF Frozen Foods LLC of Pasco, WA, and National Frozen Foods Corp. of Seattle, respectively.

Federal officials have linked a listeriosis outbreak to the CRF frozen vegetables, but no illnesses have been confirmed in relation to the National Frozen Foods Corp. vegetables. Neither the Dutch Treat Foods nor J.R. Simplot recall mentioned CRF or National.

Dutch Treat Foods Sweet Pea Pasta Salad recall
Based in Zeeland, MI, Dutch Treat Foods sold its pasta salad in bulk to two Michigan distributors that further distributed the salad. Those distributors, Lipari Foods LLC of Warren, MI, and Sysco of Grand Rapids, supply a wide variety of foodservice operations.

The Dutch Treat branded pea pasta salad also was sold in retail stores in Michigan and directly from the Dutch Treat facility in 10-pound cases, 2-pound containers and 14-ounce containers.

Consumers can identify the recalled pea pasta salad by “use by” dates of June 9 through July 1.

“The potential contamination did not originate at the Dutch Treat Foods facility,” according to the company’s recall notice on the Food and Drug Administration’s website. “The distributor and retail stores have been contacted and instructed to remove any product from their shelves and to dispose of any remaining product in their inventory.

“Consumers who have purchased the product should not consume the product but should throw it away or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.  Consumers with questions may call the company collect at 616-772-5921.”

J.R. Simplot Co. recall
Dated June 14, the recall notice from Idaho-based J.R. Simplot Co. is posted on the company’s website, but not the FDA’s site. Simplot supplies a wide variety of customers, including other food producing companies with a range of products, including individually quick frozen (IQF) vegetables.

The Simplot recall includes four products with the following labeling information:

• Simplot Classic Veg – Peas 1/20# Item No. 10071179189251;
• Simplot Classic Veg – Peas 12/2.5# (30lb) Item No. 10071179189497;
• Simplot Classic Veg – Blend 5 way 12/2.5# (30lb) Item No. 10071179188117; and
• Polar Blend 5 way 1/20# – Item No. 10072807002690.

Additional identifying information for the recalled Simplot products is included in the recall notice. The Simplot recall warns its customers that “taking prompt action in this matter is important.”

“Accordingly, we instruct affected customers to cease selling or stocking the products matching the specific lot/day codes referenced. Affected customers are also asked to locate and take control of any of this identified product that may be in the distribution system,” according to the Simplot recall notice.

“In addition, if these (products) were further distributed, those customers are to be notified at once of this product recall and provided instructions to hold/destroy product with associated documentation.”

The long shelf life of frozen vegetables has public health officials concerned that consumers, food producers, distributors and retailers may still have the recalled food on hand. Also of concern is the fact that it can take up to 70 days for listeriosis symptoms to develop after exposure to the pathogen.

Anyone who has consumed the recalled frozen vegetables or products containing them, such as the Dutch Treat pea pasta salad, and developed listeriosis symptoms should seek medical attention.

Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria monocytogenes infection can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. It can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

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