On August 9, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that Freshouse II, LLC voluntarily recalls its items, including red B potatoes, Valencia oranges, Natures Promise organic limes and Freshouse lemon.
The voluntary recall by the Salisbury, NC-based company, is due to the potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
The company decided to recall lots of their products after a routine internal inspection in which they found Listeria on some of the equipment in their packing facilities.
According to Freshouce II, LLC, they have already stopped producing and distributing the product that was packed by the equipment in question and is currently taking necessary steps and continually evaluating their cleaning and sanitation regimes.
The products were distributed to various retailer distribution centers in Virginia, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina, as well as to wholesalers in Maryland and North Carolina. As of now, there have been no reported illnesses yet.
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What is Listeria monocytogenes?
The name listeria sounded like a mouthwash at first mixed with hysteria. But it is neither Listerine nor hysteria. Instead, Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria that could give someone with fever, diarrhea, and the feeling cruddy.
But what's more concerning with these bacteria is when the infection goes beyond the gut and becomes invasive listeriosis. That means the bacteria have already entered the bloodstream or the central nervous system.
If that happens, the chances of dying from it become 20 to 30 percent. Young kids, older adults, and a person with a weak immune system have a higher risk of developing listeriosis.
Moreover, Listeria on a pregnant woman is even more to worry about as it can lead to miscarriages, premature deliveries, stillbirths, and infections to the baby. That is why pregnant women are advised to avoid soft cheese, refrigerated pates, meat spreads, smoked seafood, and other foods potentially contaminated with Listeria.
FDA has listed all the products that were recalled, and they recommend destroying the product or returning them for a refund if someone has bought any. It is better to find other alternatives in making lemonade with something else.
To view the full list of the products, click here. While those who wish to ask Freehouse II, LLC, regarding their recall, they may be contacted through 631-369-7150 on Mondays to Fridays, from 8 am to 5 pm EST. Or contact them through their email address at customerservice@freshouse.com or through their official website.
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Symptoms, treatment, and prevention of Listeria
Listeria monocytogenes can cause severe infection to people after they eat contaminated food. The CDC identified its symptoms, which include fever or flu-like symptoms such as fatigue and muscle aches. It could affect pregnant women and cause life-threatening infections in the newborn.
People who get infected with invasive listeriosis usually report symptoms one to four weeks after eating the contaminated food. Some even say as late as 70 days later.
It is usually diagnosed by doing laboratory tests and can be treated by taking antibiotics. People should immediately seek professional help and tell the doctor of the possibility of eating contaminated food, especially for pregnant women and older adults.
To avoid getting infected with Listeria, people should know which food is at risk of contamination. And to avoid these foods, avoid drinking raw milk or eating soft cheese from it, heat deli meats, and avoid cross-contamination in the refrigerator or other places in the kitchen.
