J&D Produce Announces Precautionary, Voluntary Recall Of Fresh Greens

Following confirmation from regulators of a positive test for salmonella on curly parsley in Quebec and cilantro in Detroit, J&D Produce Inc. is initiating a precautionary, voluntary recall of these two items and other potentially affected products packed only Nov. 30 and Dec. 6, 2010. There have been no reported illnesses.

Including packaging details; states affected; and clarifying product only packed on two dates (Nov. 30 and Dec. 6, 2010) is covered by this recall.

Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

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"It's imperative to protect public health, even if that means being overzealous in expanding the scope of the products we're calling back," said James Bassetti, president of J&D Produce Inc. "We will work closely with regulators, health officials and our customers in bringing back the products.

To further ensure public health, additional produce commodities were recalled due to the possibility of cross contamination from having been run on the same packing lines as the curly parsley and cilantro.

The Products Being Recalled, PLU/UPC Number, and Areas Where Distributed are listed below.

[Click here to see product labels.]

• CURLY PARSLEY, PLU # 4899, Ontario, Washington. Massachusetts, Quebec, Pennsylvania,
• Michigan, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Missouri, Rhode Island, New York, Texas, Ohio, Connecticut
• CILANTRO, PLU #4889, Ontario, Massachusetts, Washington, Quebec, New York, Illinois, Texas, Colorado, Michigan, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio
• ARUGULA. PlU #4884, Ontario, Rhode Island, Texas
• BEETS, PLU # 4539, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Ontario, Wisconsin, Quebec, Texas, Illinois, Rhode Island

PRECAUTIONARY, VOLUNTARY RECALL

• COLLARDS, PLU # 4614, Ontario, Texas, Wisconsin, Quebec, Michigan, Ohio
• CURLY MUSTARD, PLU # 4616, Quebec, Texas
• DIAKON, does not contain PLU or UPC, Ontario, New York, Texas, Quebec
• DILL, PLU # 4891, Ontario, Massachusetts, Quebec, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, New Jersey, Wisconsin
• GOLDEN BEETS, PLU # 3273, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Texas
• GREEN KOHLRABI, PLU # 4628, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Quebec, Wisconsin
• GREEN SWISS CHARD, PLU # 4586, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Quebec, Rhode Island, Texas
• KALE, PLU # 4627, Ontario, Quebec, Texas, Wisconsin, Montreal, Michigan, Illinois, Rhode Island,
• New York, Ohio, Toronto
• LEEK, PLU # 4629 Texas
• METHlLEAF, UPC # 664781 10500 4, Ontario, Texas
• MINT, PLU # 4896, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan
• PARSLEY, PLU # 4901, Ontario, Washington, Quebec, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, New Jersey, Connecticut
• RAINBOW CHARD, UPC # 66478140610 1, Illinois, Connecticut
• RED SWISS CHARD, PLU # 4587, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Ontario, Quebec, Rhode Island, Texas
• TEXAS MUSTARD, PLU # 4618, Oklahoma, Texas
• TURNIPS WITH TOPS, PLU #4810, Texas, Michigan
• TURNIP TOPS, PLU # 4619, Texas

All commodities are packed in red, white, and blue waxed cartons under the Little Bear brand. The individual bunches are banded, except for Diakon, using a rubber band or a twist tie identified by a flag tag that shows a little bear with a cowboy hat, a red handkerchief and a Texas flag. See Exhibit 1 showing Little Bear flag tags and bands. All products were distributed through retail stores and wholesale terminal markets.

"We're all seeing increased inspections by regulators and health officials here in the U.S. and Canada, and that's positive because it helps further ensure public health," Bassetti said. "We've already implemented immediate measures to make sure we minimize the likelihood of this re-occurring." For example, upon learning of the test in Quebec, Bassetti ordered the shut down of all production lines; re-sanitized the production lines; increased manual inspections; and implemented additional product rinse steps. Bassetti said be has also brought in outside consultants to review and advise the company on additional microbiological sampling and its food safety protocols.

"We have a good track record, but we'll bring our expectations and standards to even bigger levels," he said.

The commodities have "pack dates' of either Nov. 30,2010, or December 6, 2010 and from experience these types of greens are sold, purchased by the consumer and/or eaten within about fourteen days from "pack dates"; however, if any consumer has any of these items in his or her possession the commodity(s) should be destroyed or returned to the store where purchased for a full refund.

For additional information, contact J&D Produce by email at: qa@littlebearproduce.com; or by fax: 956-381-9732; or by phone at 956-380-0353.