New Listeria Recall Includes Planters Sunflower Seeds

SunOpta has voluntarily recalled a selection of sunflower kernel products that have been potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Dakota’s Best Biggy’s Roasted and Salted Kernels and Planters Sunflower Kernels, produced out of the company’s Crookston, Minn. facility between Feb. 1 and Feb. 19, are included in the recall.

No illnesses have been reported in connection to the products.

“The quality and safety of the food we produce and the ingredients we provide are the highest priority for us. Therefore, we are voluntarily recalling a limited number of sunflower kernel products that have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes,” SunOpta officials said in a statement. “We have isolated the production window to a short timeframe and are working with the FDA and customers to control and dispose of affected product. We are aware of one customer complaint that did not involve an illness, and we are not aware of any consumer issues due to consumption of this product.”

Recalled retail items were sold in clear printed plastic packages and are marked with Best By Dates located on the front or back of the packages.

Details regarding the recalled items are below:

SunOpta recall. Image from FDA website.

Recalled products were distributed to distribution centers between February 22, 2016 and February 25, 2016 in Illinois and North Dakota, and may be redistributed to other states nationwide.

Listeia can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail, and the elderly.

Symptoms can include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

Consumers are urged not to consume these products.

Those who purchased these products may take them back to the store where they purchased them for a refund or simply discard them.

Consumers seeking information should e-mail contactus@sunopta.com or call 1-877-237-4374, Monday through Friday from 3 a.m. to 12 p.m. Hawai’i time.