Sabra Hummus Products Recalled Due to Possible Contamination

*Updated on 11/23/2016 at 11:42 AM EST

It’s a sad day for hummus lovers, as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Sabra Dipping Co., LLC has voluntarily recalled a number of their hummus products due to the risk of Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Although the organism had not been found within finished products, the FDA reports that it was identified in the manufacturing facility itself. These products have been distributed to a number of retail supermarkets throughout the United States and Canada, therefore, out of caution, the company has issued a voluntary recall.

According to an announcement made by Sabra, they “implemented a thorough and extensive factory-wide cleaning and sanitation procedure, and beyond that, [they] continue to work very closely with internal and external food safety experts to identify any additional steps [they] can take to further enhance [their] efforts,” following the FDA inspection

Listeriosis infection is caused by the ingestion of contaminated food products that contain the potentially deadly organism, Listeria monocytogenes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Listeriosis has been known to cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in the elderly, younger children, and those who have weakened immune systems. Listeriosis can be especially harmful to pregnant women, as it can potentially cause stillbirths or miscarriages. However, those who do not fall into the aforementioned risk populations may only experience short-term symptoms; these symptoms can include headaches, muscle aches, fever, stomach pains, nausea, and diarrhea.

According to the announcement, products that had been made before November 8, 2016 have been recalled. These hummus products include: Sabra Hummus Classic, Sabra Hummus Garlic, Sabra Hummus Jalapeno, Sabra Hummus Olive, Sabra Hummus Pine Nut, Sabra Hummus Red Pepper, among others. The FDA urges consumers to throw away all products that have a “Best Before” date up to January 23, 2017.

The announcement notes that the following products are not a part of the recall: Sabra Organic Hummus, Sabra Guacamole, Sabra Salsa, and Sabra Greek Yogurt Dips.

A secondary recall of vegetable products by Taylor Farms Tennessee Inc., that contained Sabra's recalled products was issued on November 21. These products include: "Taylor Farms Veggie and Hummus Bistro Boxes" and "Schnucks Vegetable and Hummus Snack Trays," that contained 2 oz. dipping cups of Sabra Hummus Classic. Although Taylor Farms has not reported any illnesses linked to Listeria monocytogenes contamination, they voluntarily recalled products from October 30, 2016 to November 18, 2016 as a precaution. Grocers should discard any remaining products that they have that were distributed between those dates.

According to the CDC, one in six people become ill from eating contaminated food annually in the United States. The CDC has released educational materials to the public in an effort to prevent food poisoning within the home. These tips can be especially useful during the holidays as many families start to prepare home cooked meals.

Some of the CDC’s food safety tips include:

• Using a thermometer to make sure that the food is “done.”
• Be sure to wash kitchen surfaces, utensils, and hands often and thoroughly with soap and water.
• Make sure that you refrigerate your foods, as within two hours’ time bacteria can grow.
• Keep foods (raw meat, seafood, eggs) separate to avoid cross-contamination.

Feature Picture Source: Dion Hinchcliffe / flickr / Creative Commons.