Aunt Jemima Frozen Foods Recalled Over Listeria Fears

Aunt Jemima brand frozen pancakes, waffles and French toast products are being recalled over fears of listeria contamination and food poisoning. According to a KTLA news report, Pinnacle Foods’ voluntary recall will affect frozen products distributed all over the United States and Mexico, but does not include dry mixes and syrups. The recall has been issued after testing showed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the plant environment. Pinnacle has said it is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Affected products can be returned to the place of purchase for a full refund. So far, no illnesses have been reported as a result of these products.

How Serious is Listeria?

Listeriosis is a food-borne illness caused by consuming food that is tainted with the bacterium. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the infection is most likely to affect pregnant women and babies, the elderly (adults older than 65) and people with weakened immune systems. In pregnant women, listeriosis could lead to miscarriages or stillbirths. About 1,600 get listeriosis each year in the U.S. and approximately 260 die each year as a result of this infection.

Those who develop a listeria infection may experience symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea. Symptoms may begin a few days after you’ve eaten the contaminated food, but it may take as long as 30 days or more before the first signs and symptoms of the infection begin. If the listeria infection spreads to your nervous system, you may also experience symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion or changes in alertness, loss of balance and convulsions.

What Steps Can You Take?

If you have developed a listeria infection as the result of a food product contaminated by the bacteria, make sure you isolate the left over food so no one else in your household consumes it. Get medical attention, treatment and care for your illness as soon as possible, and follow the doctor’s orders for treatment and care.

If you are diagnosed with listeriosis, have the leftover food tested independently in a laboratory to check for the presence of pathogens. Report your illness to your local health care agency, which tends to track trends in food-borne illnesses. Contact an experienced food poisoning lawyer who can help you secure compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization, pain and suffering and emotional distress.