On August 12, 2011, both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the recall of products possibly contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

After a routine sampling by the FDA, Listeria monocytogenes was found in the imported avocado pulp used in various Layer Dip products made by Fresh Food Concepts, Inc. of Buena Park, California. Accordingly, the company is recalling its Layer Dip products containing guacamole because the avocado. The products affected by the recall were distributed to supermarkets and club stores throughout the U.S. and Canada. These products include:

• Fresh Food Concepts 5 Layer Dip, 32 oz 29358-11272, Use by 09/16/11 and before
• Delicioso 5 Layer Dip, 15 oz 29358-12229, Use by 09/16/11 and before
• Delicioso 5 Layer Dip, 30 oz 29358-12230, Use by 09/16/11 and before
• Rojo’s Ultimate 7 Layer Dip, 36 oz 35196-44162 Use by 09/16/11 and before
• Fresh Food Concepts 5 Layer Dip, 16 oz 35196-44216, Use by 09/16/11 and before
• Rojo’s Supreme 6 Layer Dip, 44 oz 47502-44180, Use by 09/16/11 and before
• Rojo’s 6 Layer Dip, 44 oz 47502-44185, Use by 09/16/11 and before
• Rojo’s 6 Layer Dip, 44 oz 47502-44189, Use by 09/16/11 and before
• Fresh Food Concepts 5 Layer Dip, 454 g 35196-44214, Use by 09/16/11 and before
• Signature Café 6 Layer Dip, 15 oz 21130-06191, Use by 09/16/11 and before
• Signature Café 6 Layer Dip, 30 oz 21130-06192, Use by 09/16/11 and before
• Signature Café 6 Layer Dip, 425 g 58200-06034, Use by 09/16/11 and before
• Signature Café 6 Layer Dip, 850 g 58200-06032, Use by 09/16/11 and before

The company noted that their products with use by dates of 09/24/11 and AFTER are made with avocado from a different source and are not involved in this recall. Fresh Food Concepts, Inc. has ceased the use of avocado from the supplier.

In addition, FSIS announced on Friday, August 12, 2011 that the Canadian company, Ailments Prince, S.E.C., is recalling approximately 380,000 pounds of diced bacon products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

According to the recall announcement:

Through routine testing on July 19, 2011, FSIS found a sample of cooked diced bacon imported from Aliments Prince, S.E.C. to be positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The initial product represented by that sample was refused entry. An in-depth investigation by the firm and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency into the root cause of the Listeria monocytogenes finding resulted in a recall of all precooked bacon products from the Canadian firm. FSIS and the company have received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products.

FSIS indicated that the following products are subject to the recall:

• 10-lb. shipping container with two 5-lb. packages of “Napoli Cooked Bacon Topping” that bear the case code 83600
• 10-lb. shipping container with two 5-lb. packages of “Stefano Brand Cooked Diced Bacon” that bear the case code 83601
• 10-lb. shipping container with two 5-lb. packages of “Bellissimo Cooked Diced Bacon” that bear the case code 83602
• 10-lb. shipping container with two 5-lb. packages of “Olymel Cooked Diced Bacon” that bear the case code 83603
• 10-lb. shipping container with two 5-lb. packages of “Assoluti Cooked Diced Bacon” that bear the case code 83608

All production dates prior to August 10, 2011, are subject to recall. The labels on the shipping containers have “EST No. 169A” and “Product of Canada.” The products were shipped to distribution centers in the U.S. for further distribution to food service institutions.

It is important for consumers to know that consuming food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause the potentially fatal illness listeriosis. Symptoms of listeriosis may include high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. For more information about listeriosis visit http://www.about-listeria.com/.