Celery Recall: Sangar of San Antonio, Texas Due to Listeriosis Risk
Texas health officials force a celery recall after a listeriosis outbreak in Bexar, Travis and Hidalgo counties kills 5 people and seriously sickens 5 others. Attorneys at Pritzker Olsen have successfully represented listeriosis victims and their families. For a free consultation, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our online form for a free consultation.
On October 20, 2010, the Texas Department of State Health Services ordered Sangar Fresh Cut Produce in San Antonio, TX to discontinue processing food and recall all products shipped from the plant since January, 2010. The Sangar recall was forced after laboratory tests of chopped celery from the plant indicated the presence of Listeria monocytogenes, the bacteria that causes listeriosis.
The recalled products – primarily cut fresh produce in sealed packages – were distributed to restaurants and institutional entities, such as hospitals and schools.
The testing of the Sangar celery was done as part of a DSHS investigation into 10 listeriosis cases, including five deaths, reported to the department over an eight-month period. Six of the 10 cases have been linked to chopped celery from the Sangar plant. The illnesses occurred in Bexar, Travis and Hidalgo counties.
DSHS inspectors also found unsanitary conditions at the plant that could have spread the Listeria in the celery to other products. Texas health officials found:
- a condensation leak above a food product area
- soil on a preparation table
- hand washing issues
As in this outbreak, listeriosis is frequently fatal. Potentially-fatal complications of listeriosis in adults include:
- septicemia (infection of the blood)
- meningitis (infection of the meninges, the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord, and the related fluids)
The overall mortality rate for listeriosis meningitis may be as high at 70%; for septicemia, 50%.
