AEGiS-FDA: FDA Issues National Warning on Hommus Dips and Salads Made By Cedar's Mediterranean Foods, Inc.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1997. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

FDA Issues National Warning on Hommus Dips and Salads Made By Cedar's Mediterranean Foods, Inc.

Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - June 12, 1997
Bradford Stone: (301) 443-3285

The Food and Drug Administration is issuing a nationwide warning against the purchase and consumption of hommus and other foods produced by Cedar's Mediterranean Foods, Inc., of Plaistow Road, NH. These foods may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in infants, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Cedar Mediterreanan, Inc is recalling all of its hommus dips, garden lentil and taboule salads which were distributed to retail stores across the country.

Most of the Cedar's Mediterranean, Inc.'s line consists of a variety of hommus and salad sold in round 8 oz. And 16 oz. clear plastic packages under the "Cedar's" brand label. Other hommus and salad dips products marketed under the "Vita" and "Mr. Hommus" label where produced by Cedar's and may also have been exposed to contamination.

To date, FDA has learned of several unconfirmed reports of serious illness that have been associated with these products. FDA is working with state and local authorities to investigate these cases and to assess the scope of this problem.

The problem was discovered after laboratory sampling by the New York State Food and Agriculture Department detected the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in several varieties of Cedar's hommus dips. Follow up inspection of the firm's production facility indicated a number of sanitation problems.

As a result, the firm has agreed to stop food production until these problems can be fully corrected.

In the meantime, consumers should avoid consuming any Cedar Mediterranean, Inc., produced hommus or salad dip product they may have purchased. Instead, they should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-963-3668.

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FD970601

SOURCE: Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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