Courtesy CFIAWhole-head romaine grown in the U.S. by Salinas, Calif.-based Tanimura & Antle is being voluntarily recalled because of possible E. coli contamination. (UPDATED COVERAGE, Aug. 22) Tanimura & Antle on Aug. 19 voluntarily initiated a recall of more than 2,000 cases of whole-head romaine in the U.S. and Canada because of possible E. coli contamination discovered during a random test in Canada.
No illnesses have been reported as being linked to the single lot of romaine recalled by the Salinas, Calif.-based company.
A notice on the Food and Drug Administration’s website said one random sample tested by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency returned a positive result for E. coli. Calls to Tanimura and Antle for comment were not immediately returned.
The romaine was individually packed in plastic bags with the Universal Price Code of 0 27918 20314 9. It may have a best-by date of Aug. 19. The romaine was available at retail locations Aug. 2-19, according to the recall notice posted on the FDA website Aug. 19.
A total of 2,095 cases of romaine were distributed, with 1,969 having been shipped to 19 states and Puerto Rico, the notice states. The affected product was shipped in cases packed with either 12 or 18 heads per case.
The recall notice states retailers and distributors can identify the affected products through a traceability code label on the outside of the cases. The traceability code label of the recalled lot has the number 5417802151.
Two days before FDA posted the recall notice, Canadian distributors of the Tanimura & Antle brand romaine initiated their own voluntary recall of the product, according to a health hazard alert from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
The agency updated its notice Aug. 20 to add distribution details. The Tanimura & Antle romaine was distributed in the provinces of Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Nunavut, Yukon and Northwest Territories. The wrappers have the same UPC of 0 27918 20314 9 as the romaine distributed in the U.S.
Standard procedures at the CFIA do not include tracking the volume of produce involved in recalls, spokeswoman Lisa Gauthier said.
The health hazard alert from CFIA does not state how or where the E. coli contamination was detected.
Comments (0) Leave a comment