The contaminated products come from Wilmington, Massachusetts-based Progressive Gourmet. On March 4, 2016, the company put out a voluntary recall notice after routine testing by the company revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes on a contact surface within the production facility.
The manufacturer recalled its 6-ounce sausage, egg, cheddar cheese English muffin sandwiches. They were sold with a “Best Before: 07-Aug-2016” marked on top of the package. The sandwiches can be heated up in the store for immediate consumption or taken home for later consumption, according to Food Safety News.
Fox News is reporting the sandwiches under this recall notice were shipped to distribution warehouses in Maryland, North Carolina, Texas and Louisiana, but were only available at 250 Starbucks stores in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma on March 3 and 4.
Starbucks has pulled all the recalled products from their stores, and anyone with one of the products bought for later consumption is advised to throw them out, or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.
The FDA notes in its online statement that Progressive Gourmet is “working closely with FDA and the Massachusetts Department of Health and continues to investigate the source of the problem.”
There have been no reports of illness with the recalled sandwiches, but symptoms of infections from Listeria monocytogenes can take up to 70 days to develop. Infections from Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
Consumers who think they may have become ill from ingesting the recalled sandwiches are advised to seek medical attention. Individuals with questions may contact the company at 1-800-224-7630 (9:00 am-5:00 pm Monday through Friday EST).
