Sabra Recalls Hummus Dips Yet Again for Listeria Contamination

Sabra Dipping Company is voluntarily recalling many of its hummus products due to potential listeria contamination. According to a news report in Fortune.com, the company has identified Listeria monocytogenes bacteria at one of its manufacturing facilities. However, the bacteria have yet to be found in any of the finished products. The hummus products were distributed to retail outlets in the U.S. and Canada, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and have a “Best Before” date through Jan. 23, 2017.

Consumers who are worried about having one of these products in their home can find the date on the lid of each package and are urged to throw out the potentially contaminated products. Sabra products not included in the recall are: Sabra Organic Hummus, Sabra Salsa, Sabra Guacamole, and Sabra Greek Yogurt Dips. This is not the first time the company has had to recall some of its products for potential listeria contamination. In 2015, Sabra recalled 30,000 cases of its hummus products after traces of the bacteria were found. A complete list of the recalled products can be found on Sabra.com or on fda.gov.

Listeria: Statistics and Symptoms

Listeria is an organism that can cause serious or even fatal infections particularly in young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 260 fatalities and 1,600 illnesses occur each year due to listeriosis in the United States. Pregnant women are also at risk as listeria infections cause miscarriages and stillbirths. Common symptoms of a listeria infection include high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

What to Do if You’ve Been Affected

If you have become ill as a result of consuming contaminated food, it is important that you get prompt medical attention, treatment and care right away. It is important that the appropriate tests are done to determine whether you have suffered food poisoning. If you still have some of the contaminated food left over at home, isolate it right away so no one else consumes it. However, it is a good idea to preserve it so it can be examined independently at a lab for pathogens.

If you became ill after eating at a restaurant, be sure to save your itemized restaurant bill. Report your illness to your local healthcare agency, which tracks these types of food-borne illnesses and outbreaks. Contact an experienced California food poisoning lawyer who will stay on top of the official investigation and ensure that your legal rights and best interests are protected. Affected victims in such cases can seek compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization, pain and suffering and emotional distress.