I purchased a 1 pound package of 'Brookshires Classic Southern Mustard Potato Salad' from my local Brookshires grocery store located in Jefferson, Texas on February 4, 2012. On February 7, 2012 I received an email from Brookshires stating that the potato salad had been recalled. No information as to why and no mention of Listeria contamination. I had to discover that fact on my own.
As my husband and I had already eaten the potato salad I was concerned why it had been recalled. Through research I learned that hard boiled eggs furnished by 'Michael Foods, Inc.' had been contaminated with Listeria. Those eggs were then distributed to food manufacturers who used them in their products. 'Brookshires Potato Salad' among others contain these Listeria contaminated eggs.
This is a list provided by Brookshires of the affected potato salad products. Still no reference to Listeria contamination.
Potato Salad Recall: Several varieties of potato salad containing hard-cooked eggs from Michael Foods have been recalled:
Brookshire’s Southern Potato Salad
3 LB, UPC 00092825145219, Lots 3/12/12 and 3/19/12 (Use By)
1 LB, UPC 00092825145257, Lots 3/12/12 and 3/19/12 (Use By)
Deli Fresh Gourmet Potato Salad
3 LB, UPC 00718129010236, Lots 3/13/12 and 3/15/12 (Use By)
3 LB, UPC 00718129010038, Lots 3/12/12, 3/14/12 and 3/19/12 (Use By)
1 LB, UPC 00718129010212, Lots 3/13/12 and 3/15/12 (Use By)
1 LB, UPC 00718129010014, Lots 3/12/12 and 3/14/12 (Use By)
Allison’s Gourmet Kitchens Potato Salad
5 LB, UPC 00718129017532, Lots 3/12/12 and 3/14/12 (Use By)
5 LB, UPC 00718129017549, Lots 3/12/12 and 3/15/12 (Use By)
5 LB, UPC 00718129017570, Lot 3/13/12 (Use By)
Customers may return affected product for a refund by Feb. 13, 2012.
Brookshires is not the only grocery chain to sell the Listeria contaminated potato salad. Super 1 Foods and Kroger also have sold potato salad products containing the Listeria contaminated eggs.
The Listeria contamination is not limited to potato salad. It can be found in any product that contains eggs distributed by 'Michael Foods, Inc.'. According to 'Food Safety News', "The recalled eggs were purchased by food distributors and manufacturers located in 34 states (AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, WA, WI, WV)."
While the products which are contaminated with Listeria are too extensive to list I have compiled a collection of links with important information to inform and educate in the hope that you won't find yourself in my predicament of eating a Listeria contaminated product.
Web MD: Hard-Boiled Egg Recall Hits 34 States
Food Safety News: Another Recall of Salad With Hard-Cooked Eggs
FOX News: Hard-Boiled Egg Recall
FDA: Recall -- Firm Press Release
Mayo Clinic: Listeria infection
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