A four-state recall, including Pennsylvania, of prepackaged fruit involves 135 stores. The apparent culprit, Daniella Brand mangoes, were voluntarily recalled by the seller and packager.
It was the Canadian Food Inspection Agency that found that these mangoes may be contaminated with salmonella, a potentially deadly bacteria strain. Fortunately, there are no reported illnesses yet from these recalled products. However, there are currently 103 salmonella infection cases under investigation by federal health officials.
The affected products have both an expiration date of September 3 (or earlier) and another stamp, a Julian code of 237 or earlier, that further identifies the recalled prepackaged fruit items. Since the Philadelphia Department of Health only becomes involved in mandatory, not voluntary recalls, they are monitoring, but not participating, in the ongoing investigation.
Both United States and Canadian health officials are attempting to learn how these mangoes contracted the salmonella bacteria. As yet, they have neither uncovered the source nor the definitive reasons for the fruit's contamination.
The same company recalling the mangoes issued recalls on other products that may have come in contact with the same processing equipment as did the mangoes. Along with the potentially contaminated mangoes, they have recalled packages of pineapple, strawberries and mangoes, pineapple snack packages, melon mix packages, large mixed fruit and watermelon packages. The seller is also recalling mango and yogurt parfaits in 7.5 ounce packages with Julian codes of 236 or earlier and sell dates of September 3 or earlier.
All of these products, sold under the Wawa brand, have similar sell dates and Julian codes. The voluntary recall may be deemed effective as neither illness nor any deaths have been reported.
Do you commend the processor and food seller for voluntarily taking these food products off their shelves? Are voluntary recalls the fastest and most effective way to remove defective products from consumers?
Source: The Daily Pennsylvanian, "Mangoes recalled from campus Wawa," Nikkita Collins, Sept. 4, 2012
- Contaminated food can be deadly. We handle cases involving these types of injuries. For more information on our practice, please visit our Pittsburgh dangerous products page.