Several Muffin Brands Affected By Nationwide Recall Over Listeria Concerns

A company has issued a voluntary recall that affects several muffin brands. The products may potentially be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Give and Go Prepared Foods Corp. issued this week a nationwide recall of certain muffin products under several brand names after learning of possible listeria contamination. The issue was discovered during the company's environmental monitoring, the recall announcement posted on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website noted.

The recall affects several brand names of muffins that were sold at various retail stores nationwide, including Uncle Wally's, The Worthy Crumb, Stop n Shop, 7-Eleven, Freshness Guaranteed, Great Value and Marketside.

The complete list of the affected variants for each brand can be found on the FDA website, along with the specific Retail UPC, Lot Code, Best By dates and images of the said products. According to the company, only the products included in the list are affected by the recall.

"No other Give & Go products are affected, and this recall does not affect products in countries other than the United States," the company said, noting that it is taking the step "out of an abundance of caution."

So far, the company has not received any reports of illnesses related to the recall. Those who may have brought the product are being advised not to eat them and instead to dispose of them immediately.

Listeriosis Infection

Listeriosis is a serious infection that can be contracted after consuming products contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said. Each year, about 1,600 people in the U.S. contract listeriosis and about 260 of them die.

The symptoms of listeriosis depend on the severity of the illness and may last from a few days to several weeks. A mild illness may cause symptoms such as nausea, muscle aches and diarrhea, but a more severe case of listeriosis may cause symptoms like stiff neck, confusion, convulsions and loss of balance.

"People infected with L. monocytogenes may start to see symptoms in a few hours or as long as two to three days after eating contaminated food," the FDA said. "More severe forms of listeriosis may take anywhere from three days to three months to develop."

Among those who are more at risk for a serious case of listeriosis are the elderly and those who have chronic diseases or weakened immune systems. It is also "particularly dangerous" for pregnant women, as it can cause complications in the pregnancy, stillbirth or miscarriage. Babies who are born with a listeriosis infection may also end up developing "severe health complications."

"Due to the range in severity of illness, people should consult their health care provider if they suspect that they have developed symptoms that resemble a [sic] L. monocytogenes infection," the FDA said.