BANGOR, Maine — As concern rises over food recalls due to listeria in Maine, there are steps you can take to keep yourself and your family healthy.
In the last month, Hannaford recalled has several types of store-brand frozen waffles for potential listeria contamination, and Shaw’s pulled a dozen prepared meals off their shelves for the same reason.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides information on all recalls, listing them on its website.
Hannaford also shares its recall notices online to ensure customers stay informed.
In a statement, Caitlin Cortelyou, Hannaford’s External Communications Manager, said safety is a priority for the company. “We work closely with our suppliers and regulatory partners to monitor these issues and will continue to assess any additional actions that may be needed.”
Retailers respond quickly to recalls by removing affected products from their shelves.
Jeremy Edwards, co-owner of Edwards Brothers Supermarkets, said they take recalls seriously.
“The public relies on us as retailers to not only provide affordable products, but quality products, and safety is very important,” he said.
If you purchase an item that’s recalled, you should discard it or return the item. Most grocery stores offer a full refund.
If you eat an item before it’s recalled that might be contaminated with listeria, the Maine CDC recommends watching out for symptoms.
“Fever, nausea, diarrhea, headache,” Sara Robinson, the Maine CDC’s Infectious Disease Epidemiology Program Director, said. “If you start to experience those symptoms, you would wanna call your provider.”
Robinson said recalls are mostly a precautionary measure, since listeria infections are uncommon.
There is an average of less than ten cases a year in Maine.
“There’s no reason to panic because of these recalls,” Robinson said.
According to Robinson, listeria infections can pose severe risks to certain groups, including to pregnant women, newborns, and people with weakened immune systems.
“It’s not to be taken lightly if you have it, but again, it is a rare condition,” Robinson added.
To minimize the risk of listeria and other foodborne illnesses, the Maine CDC recommends washing hands thoroughly before cooking and eating, cooking foods to the correct temperature, and avoiding cross-contamination in the kitchen.
For more information on food recalls and safety tips, consumers can visit FoodSafety.gov for the latest updates and guidance.