Reser’s Fine Foods recalls tuna salad because of Listeria monocytogenes contamination

Albertsons is voluntarily recalling certain tuna salad products sold at their stores in multiple states.

The recall covers select items containing tuna salad supplied by Reser’s Fine Foods, Albertsons said. Reser’s initiated the recall because of possible contamination with listeria monocytogenes in breadcrumbs used as an ingredient in their tuna salad.

The affected products were sold at Albertsons, Randalls and Tom Thumb stores in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas, and are listed below.

Anyone who has purchased these products is urged not to consume them and to dispose of them or return the items to their local store for a full refund.

The FDA recommends that anyone who purchased or received any recalled products use extra vigilance in cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces and containers that may have come in contact with these products to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. Listeria can survive in refrigerated temperatures and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces.

About Listeria infections
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections. Anyone who has eaten any recalled product and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical treatment and tell their doctors about the possible Listeria exposure.

Also, anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products should monitor themselves for symptoms during the coming weeks because it can take up to 70 days after exposure to Listeria for symptoms of listeriosis to develop. 

Symptoms of Listeria infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Specific laboratory tests are required to diagnose Listeria infections, which can mimic other illnesses. 

Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and people such as cancer patients who have weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of serious illnesses, life-threatening infections, other complications and death. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, their infections can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.