New Law Blogs

Listeria Prompts Recall of Kids' Meal Kits

By PritzkerLaw

A finding of Listeria monocytogenes in kids' ready-to-eat meal kits has prompted the recall of certain Dinolunch and Lunch Buddies brand food packages.

The recall affects 39,514 pounds of product made by Big Boy Food Group of Warren, Michigan. The positive test for Listeria was made by the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. As of now, the agency has not received any reports of illness in connection with the meal kits.

Listeria is an organism than can cause serious illness and death. It poses a special risk to women who are pregnant because Listeriosis can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth. A Listeria outbreak in Canada last year killed more than 20 people.

The FSIS press release on the Big Boy outbreak identified the following items as subject to the recall. They are all 3.6-ounce in size.

• Lunch Buddies Ham and Cheese. Each package bears the USDA establishment number EST 4205. Sell by/ Use by date of October 24, 2009.
• Lunch Buddies Turkey and Cheese. Each package bears the establishment number P - 4205. Sell by/ Use by date of October 24, 2009.
• Dinolunch Carnivore Ham & Cheese. Each package bears the establishment number EST 4205. Sell by/ Use by date of October 24, 2009.
• Dinolunch T-Rex Turkey and Cheese. Each package bears the establishment number   P - 4205. Sell by/ Use by date of October 24, 2009.

The Dinolunch items were made August 25 for distribution in Texas. The Lunch Buddies line was also produced August 25, but for distribution in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin.

If you have a sick child who consumed a recalled meal kit, see a doctor immediately. Listeria symptoms include flu-like fever and muscle aches, upset stomach and diarrhea; stiff neck, headache, loss of balance, confusion or convulsions; flu-like symptoms in pregnant women.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen attorneys has represented Listeria victims and is one of the country's leading practitioners of foodborne illness litigation. For more information about your legal rights when you have contracted Listeria from contaminated food, call our firm at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). To receive a free case consultation, complete one of our online contact forms.  

Full post as published by Food Poisoning Law Blog on September 03, 2009 (boomark / email).