FDA Calls for Recall After Listeria Detection in Pre-cut Vegetables

The Food and Drug Administration announced Friday a recall of pre-cut vegetables with "Best Buy If" dated Aug. 7 to 19. The recall was due to a listeria-infected product found by the state agriculture department in a Georgia supermarket.

There are about 30,000 cases of pre-cut vegetables that were recalled in the Southeastern part, according to Live Science. Food manufacturer Country Fresh, which has pre-cut vegetables that are wrapped in clear plastic, also announced a recall when one of they found listeria contamination in one of their products sold in their Georgia store.

Listeria is a bacteria usually found in soil and water. Animals can also be carriers of this bacteria even though they don't look sickly. Listeria can be transferred to plants when an infected animal's manure is used as fertilizer. The bacteria can also be in contact with soil.

What makes listeria more disturbing is its survival in food processing or live equipment. Listeria can actually live and grow in colder temperatures such as refrigerators and freezers.

Even though there are no reported cases of humans getting sick because of listeria infected veggies, this is still considered as deadly to humans, especially those with weak immune systems, pregnant women, children and elderly. Results of this infection to humans are fever, muscle aches and diarrhea while it can also cause stillborn and miscarriages.

Luckily, according to FDA, there are no cases of listeria-related illness reported, USA Today notes. Meanwhile, Country Fresh also said in a statement that there are no reported cases of someone getting sick because of the Listeria in the recalled products.

The FDA says the products that are involved with the recall includes diced peppers, diced onions, stir fry vegetables, grilling vegetables and stuffed mushrooms. For more information on food recall, check out the video below.