On July 2, 2018, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) advised consumers in the EU that an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes linked to contaminated frozen corn was under active investigation.
Based on a genetic analysis of strains recovered from patients in five EU contries, the outbreak began in 2015. As of June 15, the contaminated corn was responsible for 47 cases of listeriosis in five EU member countries, including: Austria, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Whole genome sequencing anaysis of 29 non-human L. monocytogenes isolates found them to be closely related to the multi-country human cluster of L. monocytogenes serogroup IVb, multi-locus sequence type 6 (ST6). The majority of the non- human isolates were obtained from 2017 season products: mainly frozen corn (13 samples), followed by frozen vegetable mixes including corn (8 samples), frozen spinach (1) and frozen green beans (1). Only one isolate was reported from a frozen vegetable mix produced in 2016, while three isolates were obtained from spinach products produced in 2018.
The probable source of the contaminated corn was traced to a production facility owned by Greenyard and located in Baja, Hungary. The corn was processed in Hungary and packed in Poland.
On 29 June 2018, the Hungarian Food Chain Safety Office banned the marketing of all frozen vegetable and frozen mixed vegetable products produced by the plant between August 2016 and June 2018, and ordered their immediate withdrawal and recall.
According to information obtained from the European Commissions’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), the recalled corn was distributed to the following countries: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, the United States of America and Vatican City.
An FDA spokesperson offered the following statement in response to a request for information regarding US distribution of the recalled products:
“The FDA was recently notified through INFOSAN of the Listeria outbreak in Europe and that potentially contaminated product may have been shipped to the U.S. Federal health officials have no evidence of associated illnesses in the U.S and there are no associated recalls at this time. The FDA and CDC routinely monitor for outbreak signals across the country and we are investigating the supply chain provided by INFOSAN. If the FDA determines there is a risk to public health we will alert consumers and work to remove the product from the marketplace.”
The following partial list of recall notices will be updated as more information becomes available
Australia (sold at Woolworths, ALDI and IGA, Campbells and Independent grocery stores)
Woolworths – Essentials snap frozen mixed veg 1kg: Carrots, peas, corn, green beans & potatoes – National distribution Best Before 19 MAR 2020 through to 24 APR 2020
Woolworths – Bell Farms Steam Veggie Carrot Corn and Broccoli 3pk 450g – National distribution, all stock
IGA – Black & Gold Corn Kernels 500g – National distribution Best Before all dates
IGA – Black & Gold Mixed Vegetables 1kg: Carrots, peas, beans & corn – National distribution Best Before all dates
ALDI – Market Fare Peas, Carrots and Super Sweet Corn 1kg – National distribution
ALDI – Market Fare Corn Kernels 1kg QLD, VIC, WA and select NSW stores Product of Hungary (only)
ALDI – Market Fare Mixed Vegetables 1kg QLD, NSW, ACT, WA Packed in Belgium from Imported and Belgian Ingredients (only)
ALDI – Market Fare Quick Steam Carrot Broccoli and Cauliflower 450g – National distribution
ALDI – Market Fare Quick Steam Carrot Corn and Broccoli 450g – National distribution
ALDI: Only products with country of origin of Belgium, United Kingdom or Hungary, all other countries not affected.
BONI – Petits pois extra fins, Petits pois très fins, Petits pois fins, Petits pois mi- fins, Haricots verts coupés, Petits pois très fins et jeunes carottes, 10 légumes pour potage, Minestrone, Mélange de légumes d’été, Fit mix, Paëlla aux fruits de mers et au poulet, Petit pois extra fins et jeunes carottes, Mélange de légumes pour soupe à la tomate, Nasi Goreng, Bami Goreng, Mix paysanne, BIO petits pois (all batch codes)
Delhaize – Petits pois extra fins, Petits pois très fins, Petits pois fins, Petits pois mi- fins, Haricots verts coupés, Petits pois très fins et jeunes carottes, 10 légumes pour potage, Minestrone, Mélange de légumes d’été, Fit mix, Paëlla aux fruits de mers et au poulet, Petit pois extra fins et jeunes carottes, Mélange de légumes pour soupe à la tomate, Nasi Goreng, Bami Goreng, Mix paysanne, BIO petits pois (all batch codes)
D’Lis – Petits pois extra fins, Petits pois très fins, Petits pois fins, Petits pois mi- fins, Haricots verts coupés, Petits pois très fins et jeunes carottes, 10 légumes pour potage, Minestrone, Mélange de légumes d’été, Fit mix, Paëlla aux fruits de mers et au poulet, Petit pois extra fins et jeunes carottes, Mélange de légumes pour soupe à la tomate, Nasi Goreng, Bami Goreng, Mix paysanne, BIO petits pois (various batch codes)
Everyday – Petits pois extra fins, Petits pois très fins, Petits pois fins, Petits pois mi- fins, Haricots verts coupés, Petits pois très fins et jeunes carottes, 10 légumes pour potage, Minestrone, Mélange de légumes d’été, Fit mix, Paëlla aux fruits de mers et au poulet, Petit pois extra fins et jeunes carottes, Mélange de légumes pour soupe à la tomate, Nasi Goreng, Bami Goreng, Mix paysanne, BIO petits pois (all batch codes)
Pinguin – Maïs (1kg & 2.5 kg; all lot codes and best before dates)
Pinguin – Maïs Super doux (1kg & 2.5 kg; all lot codes and best before dates)
Pinguin – Mexico Mix (1kg & 2.5 kg; all lot codes and best before dates)
Pinguin – Maya Mix (1kg & 2.5 kg; all lot codes and best before dates)
Pinguin – Petits pois extra fins, Petits pois très fins, Petits pois fins, Petits pois mi- fins, Haricots verts coupés, Petits pois très fins et jeunes carottes, 10 légumes pour potage, Minestrone, Mélange de légumes d’été, Fit mix, Paëlla aux fruits de mers et au poulet, Petit pois extra fins et jeunes carottes, Mélange de légumes pour soupe à la tomate, Nasi Goreng, Bami Goreng, Mix paysanne, BIO petits pois (various lot codes and best before dates)
Lidl Czech Republic – “Freshona” Vegetable mixture with baby carrot (1000g; All best by dates)
MAKRO Cash & Carry – ARO frozen corn (2.5kg; All best by dates)
MAKRO Cash & Carry – ARO mixture containing frozen corn (2.5kg; All best by dates)
MAKRO Cash & Carry – HS / MC Mexico Mix, frozen (2.5 kg; All best by dates)
MAKRO Cash & Carry – HS / MC corn grain extra sweet, frozen (2.5kg; All best by dates)
MAKRO Cash & Carry – HS / MC Country mixture, frozen (2.5kg; All best by dates)
MAKRO Cash & Carry – HS mixture with corn (2.5kg; All best by dates)
Penny Market – Penny Frozen Broccoli (450g; All best by dates)
Penny Market – Penny Frozen Corn (450g; All best by dates)
Penny Market – Penny Frozen Peas (450g; All best by dates)
Tesco Stores CR
Denmark
Coop – Frozen Extrasweet Corn (650g; all batch codes)
Lidl – Freshona Frozen Cream Spinach (450g; all batch codes)
Lidl – Freshona Frozen Extrasweet Corn (450g; all batch codes)
Kesko – Menu Corn (2.5kg; Best before dates of 21.9.2018-7.5.2020)
Kesko – Menu Pea, corn, pepper (2.5kg; Best before dates of 21.9.2018-7.5.2020)
Kesko – Pirkka Mexican mixed vegetables (450g; Best before dates of 08.2018 – 04.2020)
Lidl Suomi – Freshona Sweetcorn Extra Sweet (450g; All batch codes and best by dates)
Lidl Suomi – Green Grocer’s Sweetcorn (450g; All batch codes and best by dates)
Lidl Suomi – Freshona Mixed Vegetables (450g; All batch codes and best by dates)
Lidl Suomi – Green Grocer’s Mixed Vegetables(450g; All batch codes and best by dates)
SOK – Rainbow Makea maissi (pakaste) / Rainbow frozen sweet corn (450g; Best before dates 06.01.2019 – 09.06.2019). Sold at S Group’s Prisma, S-market, Sale and Alepa stores throughout Finland.
Carrefour – Poelé de riz au poulet et champignons (900g; all batch codes and best by dates)
Claude Léger – Taboulé au poulet (1kg; sold between 25/06 and 13/07/2018)
D’Aucy – Mélange mexicain (1kg; Best by dates from 08/2018 through 06/2020)
D’Aucy – Mélange Caraïbe (1kg; Best by dates from 08/2018 through 06/2020)
E. Leclerc – Notre Jardin Légumes pour Potage (1kg; All best before dates)
Leader Price – Mélange mexicain (1kg; All batch codes and best by dates)
Gel Manche – Délice la mer (2.2 kg; various batch codes and best by dates)
Gel Manche – Salade camarguaise and salade landaise (3kg; best by dates from 13/07/2018 – 03/08/2018)
L’Assiette d’Antoine – Salade Riz Niçois (700g; best before 13/07/2018 – 03/08/2018)
L’Assiette d’Antoine – Salade Camarguaise (700g; best before 13/07/2018 – 03/08/2018)
L’Assiette d’Antoine – Salade Camarguaise (3kg; best before 13/07/2018 – 03/08/2018)
L’Assiette d’Antoine – Salade landais (3kg; best before 13/07/2018 – 03/08/2018)
Lidl – Freshona Légumes Vapeurs Jeunes carottes, petits pois, haricots verts, maïs (All lots and Best before dates)
Lidl – Freshona Légumes Vapeurs Carottes, brocolis, maïs (All lots and Best before dates)
Loste Tradi France – Salade 4 saisons (sold 21/06/2018 – 12/07/2018)
Loste Tradi France – Salade Landaise et gésiers (sold 21/06/2018 – 12/07/2018)
Loste Tradi France – Salade 4 saisons aux tomates fraiches (250g; sold 21/06/2018 – 12/07/2018)
Monique RANOU (Intermarché) – Bol poulet crudités (250g; various batch codes and best by dates)
Pinguin – Petits pois très fins (2.5kg; Lots W171423 & CM8099H1; best by 05/2019 & 04/2020)
TLC – Salade printaniere au jambon superieur (sold 21/06/2018 – 12/07/2018)
Unbranded (Intermarché) – Riz niçois (1kg; sold between 25/06 and 13/07/2018)
Germany
Globus-Filianen – Frenzel Leipziger Allerlei (450g; Batch code M8 108 F3; Best by 04/2020)
Kaufland – Frenzel Leipziger Allerlei (450g; Batch codes M8 107 S3, M8 108 F3, M8 108 S3; Best by MHD 04/2020, MHD 04/2020, MHD 04/2020, respectively)
Lidl Deutschland – Freshona Gemüsemix and Green Grocer’s Gemüsemix (1000g; all batch codes; all dates)
Growers Pride – Mixed Vegetables (450g; All best before dates to July 2021 inclusive)
Ross – Mixed Vegetables (1kg; All best before dates to July 2020 inclusive)
Ross – Sweetcorn (450g; All best before dates to July 2021 inclusive)
Sainsbury’s – Mixed Vegetables (1kg; All best before dates to Jan 2020, inclusive)
Waitrose – Love Life Vegetable Medley Steamers (4 x 160g; Best before May, July, September 2018)
Iceland
COOP – COOP Extra Sweet Corn (650g; all batch codes produced from August 2016 through November 2017)
Pinguin – Pinguin Sweet Corn Kernels, frozen (2.5kg; all batch numbers produced from 13 August 2016 through 20 June 2018)
Pinguin – Pinguin Mexican Mixed Vegetables (2.5kg; all batch numbers produced from 13 August 2016 through 20 June 2018)
Brakes – Choice Mixed Vegetables (1kg; All dates up to Jan 2020)
Brakes – Garden Peas (2.5kg; All dates up to Jan 2020)
Brakes – Sweetcorn (2.5kg; Batch codes ending “Z or N” only; All dates up to Jan 2020)
Iceland – Mixed Vegetables (900g; All date codes between Jan 2020 and June 2020 inclusive)
Lidl – Green Grocer’s Supersweet Sweetcorn (1kg; All batches, all Best before Dates)
Lidl – Green Grocer’s Fragrant Golden Rice (400g/2 single-steam pouches; All batches, all Best before Dates)
Lidl – Green Grocer’s and Freshona Mixed Vegetables (1kg; All batches, all Best before Dates)
Lidl – Green Grocer’s and Freshona Steamers Carrots, Broccoli & Sweetcorn (4 x 160g; All batches, all Best before Dates)
Lidl – Green Grocer’s and Freshona Steamers Baby Carrots, Peas, Green Beans & Sweetcorn (4 x 160g; All batches, all Best before Dates)
Tesco – 4 Steam Bags Carrot, Broccoli & Sweetcorn (640g; All dates up to and including Jan 2020)
Tesco – 4 Steam Bags Peas, Broccoli, Spinach & Sweetcorn (640g; All dates up to and including Jan 2020)
Tesco – 4 Growers Harvest Steam Bags Carrot, Peas & Sweetcorn (640g; All dates up to and including Jan 2020)
Tesco – Mixed Vegetables with Red Peppers (1kg; All dates up to and including Jan 2020)
Tesco – Sweetcorn, resealable (1kg; All dates up to and including Jan 2020)
Tesco – Classic Mixed Vegetables, resealable ((1kg; All dates up to and including Jan 2020)
Tesco – Growers Harvest Sweetcorn (907g; All dates up to and including Jan 2020)
Tesco – Growers Harvest Mixed Vegetables (1.16kg; All dates up to and including Jan 2020)
Tesco – Everyday Value Sweetcorn (907g; All dates up to and including Jan 2020)
Italy
Findus – Minestrone tradizione NT (1kg; Lot #7311; Best by 31-07-2019)
Findus – Minestrone tradizione (400g; Lot #7327; Best by 31-07-2019)
Findus – Minestrone tradizione (400g; Lot 7304; Best by 30-11-2018)
Findus – Minestrone tradizione (400g; Lot 7303; Best by 30-11-2018)
Findus – Minestrone tradizione (400g; Lot 7326; Best by 31-07-2019)
Findus – Minestrone tradizione (1kg; Lot 7334; Best by 31-07-2019)
Findus – Minestrone tradizione (1kg; Lot 7251; Best by 31-10-2018)
Findus – Minestrone tradizione (1kg; Lot 7310; Best by 31-07-2019)
Findus – Minestrone tradizione (1kg; Lot 7308; Best by 31-12-2018)
Findus – Minestrone sapori orientali (600g; Lot 8011; Best by 31-01-2019)
Findus – Minestrone sapori orientali (600g; Lot 7318; Best by 30-11-2018)
Findus – Minestrone sapori orientali (600g; Lot 7292; Best by 31-10-2018)
Findus – Minestrone sapori orientali (600g; Lot 7257; Best by 30-09-2018)
Findus – Minestrone bontà di semi (600g; Lot 7306; Best by 30-11-2018)
Lidl Italia – GREEN GROCER’S / FRESHONA MIX DI VERDURE SURGELATE A BASE DI CAROTE, FAGIOLINI, PISELLI, MAIS (1000g; all batch codes and best before dates)
Lidl Italia – GREEN GROCER’S / FRESHONA Mais Surgelato (450g; all batch codes and best before dates)
Lidl Italia – FRESHONA MIX DI VERDURE SURGELATE A BASE DI CAROTE, FAGIOLINI, PISELLI, MAIS (1000g; all batch codes and best before dates)
Lidl Italia – FRESHONA Mais Surgelato (450g; all batch codes and best before dates)
Pinguin – Pinguin 4 Mixed Vegetables (2.5kg; Lot W171583 8G; Best before 06-07-2019)
Boni – Boni Selection Bio petits poi9s très fins, frozen (600g; See recall notice for list of lot numbers and Best by dates)
Boni – Boni Selection Mix paysanne, frozen (1kg; See recall notice for list of lot numbers and Best by dates)
Delhaize – Delhaize Groentemix tomatensoep (600g; All lots and best by dates)
Delhaize – Delhaize Extra fijne erwten/jonge wortelen (600g; All lots and best by dates)
Everyday – Everyday bami goreng, frozen (750g; See recall notice for list of lot numbers and Best by dates)
Everyday – Everyday nasi gorent, frozen (750g; See recall notice for list of lot numbers and Best by dates)
Netherlands
Pinguin – Pinguin Frozen Peas, extra fine (1kg; All best by dates)
Bell Farms – Bell Farms brand Steam Veggies carrot, corn, and broccoli (450g; all batch codes and best by dates)
Pinguin – Pinguin brand 4 mixed vegetables (1000g; all batch codes and best by dates)
Sweden
COOP – COOP Frozen Corn Kernels (450g; Best by 2019-06-09). Sold at COOP stores.
Lidl – Freshona TK Vegetable Mix (1000g; all best by dates)
Aldi – Four Seasons Frozen Carrots, Peas & Supersweet Sweetcorn Steamers (all sizes and batch codes; all best before dates to Jan 2020, inclusive)
Aldi – Four Seasons Frozen Carrots, Broccoli & Supersweet Sweetcorn Steamers (all sizes and batch codes; all best before dates to Jan 2020, inclusive)
Aldi – Frozen Four Seasons Mixed Vegetables (all sizes and batch codes; all best before dates to Jan 2020, inclusive)
Aldi – Four Seasons Supersweet Sweetcorn (all sizes and batch codes; all best before dates to Jan 2020, inclusive)
basics – Mixed Vegetables (1kg; all batch codes; all best before dates to Jan 2020, inclusive)
Growers Pride – Supersweet Sweetcorn (750g; all batch codes; all best before dates to July 2020, inclusive)
Growers Pride – Supersweet Sweetcorn (450g; all batch codes; all best before dates to July 2021 inclusive)
Growers Pride – Mixed Vegetables (750g; all batch codes; all best before dates to July 2020, inclusive)
Growers Pride – Mixed Vegetables (450g; all batch codes; all best before dates to July 2021 inclusive)
Iceland – Frozen Mixed Vegetables (700g; all batch codes; all best before dates between January 2020 and June 2020 inclusive)
Independent – Mix Vegetables (all sizes and batch codes; all best before dates to July 2019, inclusive)
Lidl – Frozen Green Grocer’s Supersweet Corn (1kg; all batch codes; all best before dates to July 2020, inclusive)
Lidl – Frozen Freshona Vegetable Mix (1kg; all batch codes; all best before dates to July 2020, inclusive)
Lidl – Green Grocer’s Mixed Vegetables (1kg; all batch codes; all best before dates to July 2020, inclusive)
Lidl – Green Grocer’s Baby Carrots, Peas, Green Beans & Sweetcorn Steamers (640g; all batch codes and best before dates)
Lidl – Green Grocer’s Fragrant Golden Rice Steamers (400g; all batch codes; all best before dates to July 2020, inclusive)
One Stop – Frozen Sweetcorn (all sizes and batch codes; all best before dates to Jan 2020, inclusive)
Oriental Express – Chinese Chicken (350g; all batch codes; all best before dates to Jan 2020, inclusive)
Oriental Express – Chinese Prawns (350g; all batch codes; all best before dates to Jan 2020, inclusive)
Oriental Express – Egg Fried Rice (350g; all batch codes; all best before dates to Jan 2020, inclusive)
Pinguin – Frozen Sweetcorn (all sizes and batch codes; all best before dates to July 2020, inclusive)
Pinguin – Supersweet Sweetcorn (all sizes and batch codes; all best before dates to July 2020, inclusive)
Pinguin – frozen Golden Rice and Vegetables (all sizes and batch codes; all best before dates to July 2020, inclusive)
Pinguin – Mixed Vegetable (all sizes and batch codes; all best before dates to July 2020, inclusive)
Pinguin – Country Vegetable (1kg; all batch codes; all best before dates to July 2020, inclusive)
Pinguin – Frozen Cut Beans (all sizes and batch codes; all best before dates to July 2020, inclusive)
Ross – Mixed Country Vegetables (1kg; all batch codes; all best before dates to July 2020, inclusive)
Ross – Mixed Vegetables (450g; all batch codes; all best before dates to July 2021, inclusive)
Ross – Mixed Vegetables (1kg; all batch codes; all best before dates to July 2020, inclusive)
Ross – Sweetcorn (450g; all batch codes; all best before dates to July 2021, inclusive)
Ross – Sweetcorn (1kg; all batch codes; all best before dates to July 2020, inclusive)
Sainsbury’s – by Sainsbury’s Mixed Special Vegetables (1kg; all batch codes; all best before dates to Jan 2020, inclusive)
Sainsbury’s – by Sainsbury’s Mixed Vegetables (1kg; all batch codes; all best before dates to Jan 2020, inclusive)
Sainsbury’s – by Sainsbury’s White Rice, Broccoli, Supersweet Sweetcorn & Peas Microwaveable steam bags (540g (4x135g); all batch codes; all best before dates to Jan 2020, inclusive)
Sainsbury’s – by Sainsbury’s Carrots, Broccoli & Sweetcorn Microwaveable steam bags (540g (4x135g); all batch codes; all best before dates to Jan 2020, inclusive)
Tesco – frozen Mixed Vegetables and Peppers (all sizes and batch codes; all best before dates to Jan 2020, inclusive)
Tesco – Broccoli Frozen Sweetcorn Peas and Spinach Steamer (all sizes and batch codes; all best before dates to Jan 2020, inclusive)
Tesco – Growers Harvest Sweetcorn (all sizes and batch codes; all best before dates to Jan 2020, inclusive)
Tesco – Frozen Growers Harvest Carrot Peas and Sweetcorn Steamer (all sizes and batch codes; all best before dates to Jan 2020, inclusive)
Tesco – Frozen Growers Harvest Mixed Vegetables (all sizes and batch codes; all best before dates to Jan 2020, inclusive)
Tesco – Frozen Broccoli, Carrot and Sweetcorn Steamer (all sizes and batch codes; all best before dates to Jan 2020, inclusive)
Tesco – Frozen Every Day Value Sweetcorn (all sizes and batch codes; all best before dates to Jan 2020, inclusive)
Tesco – Frozen Mixed Vegetables (all sizes and batch codes; all best before dates to Jan 2020, inclusive)
Tesco – Growers Harvest Frozen Mixed Vegetables (all sizes and batch codes; all best before dates to Jan 2020, inclusive)
Tesco – Frozen Sweetcorn (all sizes and batch codes; all best before dates to Jan 2020, inclusive)
Waitrose – Essential Supersweet Sweetcorn (E1kg; all batch codes; Best before Oct 2019, Nov 2019, and Aug 2019)
Waitrose – Essential Vegetable Mix (E1kg; all batch codes; all best before dates to Dec 2019, inclusive)
Waitrose – Fine Cut Vegetable Steamer (E640g (4 x 160ge); all batch codes; all best before dates to Jan 2020, inclusive)
Waitrose – Love Life Vegetable Medley Steamers (E640g (4 x 160ge); batch codes P6163, P7021, P7080; best before May 2018, Jul 2018, Sep 2018)
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