By now, you’re probably used to seeing food recalls and aren’t surprised when yet another batch of lettuce is contaminated by E. Coli or some other prepackaged product has salmonella or listeria bacteria. When it gets to the point that eating starts to feel like playing Russian Roulette and the recalls just keep coming, it may be time to take your food into your own hands and do something proactive rather than waiting for the bad luck to hit. Read on for the scoop on the most recent recalls and a few things you can do to avoid getting sick.
Food recalls since January 1, 2020
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) potential contamination of Listeria and Salmonella are more common problems than you may realize, with over seven cases in just the first two months of 2020, including,
- Plain Peanut Spread from Nuts ‘N More LLC – Potential to be contaminated with Listeria
- Flax Seed Fiber Powder and Capsules from Nopalina – Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella
- Cornbread Dressing and Bread Stuffing from Morrison’s, Savannah Classics, Piccadilly- Potential to be contaminated with Listeria
- Sandwiches from Premo, Fresh Grab – Due to potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella
- Tahina from Sham Gardens- Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella
- Protein snack tray and protein trail mix from Fresh Location – Potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
- Salvadorean String Cheese (Quesillo Cheese) semi-soft cheese from Limena, LLC- Potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
Blendtopia listeria recall
The most recent listeria scare and food recall comes from the brand Blendtopia and their Frozen smoothie products. As of February 11, 2020, the brand has voluntarily issued a recall that includes 29,000 cases of Blendtopia’s frozen Superfood Smoothie kits. Check your freezer! If you bought the brand’s “Glow,” “Detox,” “Energy,” “Immunity,” or “Strength” kits with best-by dates of July 2021, October 2021, and November 2021, you should throw them away or return them for a refund. Though there haven’t been any reported cases of listeriosis from this contaminated batch, be sure to exercise caution and check any of the Blendtopia products in your freezer.
What is Listeria?
Listera can prove deadly in children, older adults, pregnant women, or those with weakened immune systems. However, it will usually just produce short-term, severe symptoms in healthy adults, such high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Yes, even when you are trying to do something good for you body, like enjoying a healthy smoothie for breakfast, you are at risk of contracting a harmful bacteria. So what should you do when confronted with such an alarming list of food recalls?
What to do?
Though it isn’t a good idea to live in fear of everything you eat, there are ways to maximize your farm to table consumption and avoid eating food that has passed through hundreds of hands and traveled thousands of miles to get to your plate.
Eat local
As always, here at The Alternative Daily, we support local eating and the work of small organic farmers to grow healthy, chemical-free produce. When you know where your food is coming from, you know that you can trust the source and the products you are enjoying.
Grow your own
Even if you only have a small yard or a patio, you can grow your own fruits and veggies during the spring and summer for fresh smoothies with real ingredients all year round. Freeze things like kale, spinach, and berries to increase their lifespan and enjoy homegrown produce even when there’s snow on the ground. Utilize vertical gardening and invest in a greenhouse if you have the space to maximize your growing season and fill your smoothie (and your salad) with uncontaminated produce.
Our favorite fruits and veggies for a smoothie garden include:
- Cucumber
- Spinach
- Strawberries
- Mint
- Blueberries
- Beets
- Basil
- Kale
- Carrots
Mix any combination of the above with a frozen banana and some almond or coconut milk, and you’ll have a delicious, Listera-free smoothie to start your day off right.
What are your favorite things to grow in your smoothie garden? How do you support local farmers? Let us know in the comments below!
-The Alternative Daily
