Retail chains including 7 Eleven, Walgreens, and Trader Joes are being impacted by a recall of ready-to-eat sushi in the U.S. East Coast and Upper Midwest.
Santa Fe, California, U.S.A.-based Fuji Food Products voluntarily recalled ready-to-eat sushi, salads, and spring rolls due to the potential for contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
The products were sold at 7 Eleven, Walgreens, Food Lion, Hannaford, Trader Joe’s, Giant Eagle Supermarkets, Porkys, Bozzutos, Supreme Lobster, and Superior Foods in several states. The sushi was sold under the Okami and Trader Joes brand names.
The problem was discovered at Fuji’s facility in Brockton, Massachusetts during a routine inspection conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Listeria was discovered in the plant near the area where food was prepared, so the company recalled the products out of an abundance of caution, Fuji said in a press release.
“The company has ceased production and distribution of their products in this facility as FDA and the company continue their investigation as to what caused this problem. Fuji Food Products has never before recalled any of its products,” Fuji said.
To date, public health officials have not reported any illness associated with these products. The products are packed in plastic trays with clear lids and the sell-by dates are on the labels. Consumers who have purchased the recalled products should dispose of the product.
"As responsible processors of safe, fresh food for nearly 30 years, we are addressing this problem vigorously and we apologize to those who are affected by it,” Fuji Food Products CEO Farrell Hirsch said. "We will restart operation only after we have eliminated the cause and the FDA certifies that our facility is once again free of possible contamination."
Photo courtesy of Fuji Food Products
