American hummus maker Sabra recently issued a recall due to listeria recalls. It’s the second listeria-related recall issued by the company in 18 months. Here are 5 fast facts you need to know about the recall today.
5) The Recall Covers 57 Varieties of Hummus
Sabra has recalled virtually every hummus product it makes, with the exception of Sabra Organic Hummus, Sabra Salsa, Sabra Guacamole, and Sabra Greek Yogurt Dips.
In total, 57 varieties of hummus are affected by the recall. The hummus products were distributed to retail outlets, grocery stores, and other companies throughout the United States and Canada.
If you have Sabra hummus, check its Best Before date. The recall affects all types of hummus with a Best Before date up through January 23, 2017. If your Sabra hummus (with the exception of the varieties listed above) has a Best Before date before January 23, you’re urged to discard it. You can find your Best Before date on the lid of each packaging.
The FDA recall notice here lists all 57 varieties of hummus, including their UPC, SKU, and item name.
Sabra maintains that it’s issuing the recall out of an abundance of caution. As with most recalls, the vast majority of hummus products likely contain no listeria – but the company obviously can’t afford to take that risk.
4) Infectious Organism Listeria Monocytogenes was Found at the Manufacturing Facility
The FDA announced this past week that listeria was found at Sabra’s manufacturing facility in Virginia.
Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can lead to serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, the elderly, and anyone with a compromised immune system. In healthy adults, it can lead to symptoms like high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea – but it’s rarely fatal.
In pregnant women, listeria infections can cause miscarriages and stillbirths.
3) You Can Get a Product Replacement
Many customers are content with just throwing their infected hummus away. However, if you want to receive a refund on your product, then you can visit Sabra’s official recall site at http://www.sabrahummusrecall.com/. At that site, you’ll find a form that can walk you through the recall process.
You can also call Sabra Consumer Relations at 1-866-265-6761 for more information. Customer service is available from 9am to 8pm EST.
If you’re eligible for reimbursement, Sabra will issue you a product replacement coupon.
2) Listeria Causes 260 Deaths a Year in the United States
There’s a good reason Sabra has issued the recall. Listeria, according to the CDC, causes approximately 1600 illnesses and 260 deaths every year in the United States.
Pregnant women are 10 times more likely than the general population to develop a listeria infection.
1) This is the Second Time Listeria Has Been Found at Sabra’s Manufacturing Facility
In April 2015, Sabra issued a voluntary recall for its hummus products after listeria was found in its manufacturing facility.
The same thing occurred in November 2016.
In both cases, listeria was found at the manufacturing facility but was not founded in tested finished products.
In the meantime, Sabra CEO Shali Shalit Shoval said in a statement that after the FDA conducted their inspection, the company “implemented a thorough and extensive factory-wide cleaning and sanitation procedure.”
The company added that the recall was issued “out of an abundance of caution” and that they “continue to work very closely with internal and external food safety experts to identify any additional steps we can take to even further enhance our efforts.”
To learn more about the recall, or to request a reimbursement, visit http://www.sabrahummusrecall.com/
