Hy-Vee Stores, Inc. has recalled specific lot numbers of frozen Hy-Vee brand vegetable fried rice and frozen chicken fried rice due to possible Listeria contamination.
The frozen vegetable fried rice being recalled was sold in one-pound bags with the UPC number 000007545012530 and the frozen chicken fried rice being recalled was sold in 20-ounce bags with the UPC number 0075450125290. Both products have a “use by” date of Nov. 5, 2017, or earlier.
These products were sold at Hy-Vee stores in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin between July 24, 2014 and Thursday. Out of an abundance of caution, Hy-Vee is recalling these two products from all of its stores.
Newton Hy-Vee store manager Todd Fox said all items that fall within the recall have been pulled from his store's inventory.
Listeria contamination can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems, and subsequent infections can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. Symptoms can include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
To date, no illnesses have been reported in connection with this product. No other Hy-Vee food items are impacted by this recall.
Hy-Vee, Inc. operates 240 retail stores across eight Midwestern states. This is the second high-profile Listeria recall this year involving products sold by Hy-Vee; Maytag Dairy Farms recalled all of its blue cheese products in February and later ceased all production in March. Maytag Dairy Farms has not returned Newton Daily News requests for updates on production. Fox said he has been told more than once by Maytag that he cannot yet order any Maytag products for the Newton Hy-Vee store.
The potential for contamination of the recent food recall was discovered after Ajinomoto Windsor, Hy-Vee’s supplier, announced they were recalling specific frozen foods due to the potential for Listeria monocytogenes.
Customers who purchased this product should discard it or return it to their local Hy-Vee store for a full refund. Costumers with questions may contact Hy-Vee Customer Care representatives, 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-772-4098.
Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com