Southern Specialties Voluntarily Recalls Bagged Green Beans and Butternut Squash Distributed in Southeast because of Possible Health Risk

Southern Specialties Inc. of Pompano Beach, Florida is voluntarily recalling select bags of Marketside brand green beans and butternut squash because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The company shipped the recalled product to one retail distribution center. Although most of the product was retrieved before distribution to retail stores, some product shipped on February 17th may have reached select stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. So, in an abundance of caution, we are issuing this public announcement.

To date, Southern Specialties has not been informed of any illnesses associated with this recall.

This recall was voluntarily issued after a raw material supplier notified the company that it was issuing a recall after a routine test of a food contact surface tested positive for the bacterium. As a precautionary measure, Southern Specialties is recalling all products that were repacked at its facility on the same repacking line as the supplier’s product. None of the products have tested positive.

The company is carrying out this recall with the knowledge of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

Consumers can use the following information to determine if they have the recalled product. Anyone who has the recalled product should not consume it and either destroy it or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.

Consumers with questions regarding this recall may contact the company at 1-954-876-2453 or visit www.southernspecialties.com. We will return calls within 24 hours.

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