Nut Butters Contaminated with Listeria Could Cause Food Poisoning

 Posted on March 23, 2019 in Food poisoning attorney

For some people, nut butters can be a matter of life and death simply due to food allergies. These allergies can cause extreme reaction such as shortness of breath, swelling, and in severe cases, even death. In recent months, there has been an entirely different reason why some people are avoiding these creamy spreads. Several nut butters on the market have been recalled due to the possibility of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

Because these products have a long shelf life, there is a good possibility that you may have one of these products sitting on your pantry shelf right now. Listeria contamination in products that are ready to eat can cause serious illness and food poisoning because the consumer does not heat them to kill the pathogens before consuming.

What is Listeria Monocytogenes?

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious, and even fatal, infections in people, particularly those who are vulnerable such as young children, elderly people, those who are frail, and those with weakened immune systems. In healthy individuals, the symptoms may be short-term and present as high fever, stiffness, severe headaches, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. It is important to note that no illnesses have been reported to date due to the recalled products.

What Products are Part of the Recall?

The recalled products were distributed in several states including Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Indiana, Iowa, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. The recalled products include the following:

• Inspired Organics Organic Sunflower Butter with the UPC number 863669742526. It was sold starting in April 2018.
• Inspired Organics Organic Almond Butter with UPC number 863669742540. It was recalled on December 17, 2018.
• Inspired Organics Organic Almond, Tahini, and Peanut Butter. They were recalled on December 20, 2018.
• Oskri Organics Organic Sunflower Butter, Lot 099; Tahini Butter, Lot 193; and Thrive Sunflower Butt, Lot 233. These products were recalled on January 2, 2019.
• Thrive Market brand nut butters were recalled on January 24, 2019 including almond butter, sesame tahini butter, peanut butter, coconut butter, cashew butter, and sunflower butter.
• Oskri Organics recalled all of their nut butters with the best by date of June 2020 and earlier on January 28, 2019.

If you purchased any of the above recalled products, you should not consume them. Instead, discard the products or return them to the place where they were purchased.

Contact an Experienced Food Poisoning Attorney Today

If you have already consumed these recalled products, watch yourself and your loved ones for the symptoms of listeriosis. If you develop any of the symptoms, particularly if your immunocompromised, you need to see your doctor immediately.

Listeriosis and other types of food poisoning can result in severe illnesses and lengthy hospital stays. If you have been the victim of food poisoning, you may be able to receive compensation for your injuries. Contact the attorneys at Newland & Newland, LLP today to schedule a consultation. We serve clients in the Arlington Heights, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Libertyville, Mundelein, Buffalo Grove, Schaumburg, Elk Grove, and Itasca.

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