SALINAS Calif. Ippolito International LP Friday said concern about possible salmonella contamination prompted it to recall 1,515 cartons of bunched spinach under the “Queen Victoria” brand that it sold to foodservice operators and others in multiple states and Canada.
The voluntary recall also involves 200 cartons of spinach under the “Tubby” label and followed the discovery of salmonella in some Ippolito bunched spinach randomly tested by the Michigan Department of Agriculture. No illnesses have been reported, to date, the Salinas agricultural products company said, but it nevertheless advised foodservice operators and others who determine they hold recalled product to dispose of it.
The 1,515 Queen Victoria cartons were distributed to foodservice, retail and wholesale buyers in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York and British Columbia, Ontario and Manitoba, Canada, Ippolito said. The 200 Tubby cartons went to retail and wholesale buyers in California and New York.
Ippolito said the Queen Victoria product was packed in cardboard cartons with "Spinach" printed on the side panel, in wire bound crates or reusable plastic containers. The product was harvested Sept. 1 through Sept. 3. The 12- and 24-count spinach bunches were bound with a twist tie that says “Queen Victoria Spinach Produce of USA PLU 4090 UPC 33383 65200."
The cartons were labeled with the following code date stickers, which can be located on the outside edge panel of the carton: 10522441?5 205?(Harvested September 1, 2009); 10522451?5 205?(Harvested September 2, 2009); and 10522461?5 205?(Harvested September 3, 2009).
The Tubby product was packed in cardboard cartons with "Tubby" printed on the side panel. The cartons were labeled on the outside edge with the following code date sticker: 10522451?5 205?(Harvested September 2, 2009). According to Ippolito, restaurateurs or consumers should check with the store or other business from which they purchased Tubby spinach to ascertain if the product they have came from a carton with the code date sticker referenced above.
Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with salmonella most often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, but in rare circumstances might also contract arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis.
“Our primary concern and commitment is for the well-being of the consumer. This voluntary recall is precautionary to reduce risk to the lowest level,” said Butch Corda, general manager of Ippolito International.
Contact Alan J. Liddle at [email protected]
