A widespread recall has been issued for a popular ready-to-eat chicken fried rice product sold at Walmart stores, including numerous locations across South Florida, after concerns that the products may be tainted with Listeria. Local10, a Miami-based news outlet, reported that Garland Ventures Ltd. is recalling about 13,842 pounds of these meals after a routine check by food safety officials.
The recall involves 12-oz trays of Freshness Guaranteed brand "CHICKEN FRIED RICE DICED CHICKEN MEAT WITH VEGETABLES AND RICE IN A SAVORY SOY SAUCE," with lot code WK10CFR and a "best if used by" date of November 10, 2024, which customers can return to Walmart for a refund, and the list of affected stores includes addresses in Miami, Miami Gardens, Hialeah, Homestead, Fort Lauderdale, and Florida City. Walmart has circulated a list of the stores involved. The Local10 report highlighted that there have been no confirmed illnesses linked to the product as of yet.
This recall occurred following the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) discovered positive results for Listeria monocytogenes during product testing, as announced in a statement. Listeria infections can be grave, particularly affecting older adults, those with compromised immune systems, and pregnant women, leading to miscarriages and other serious health issues. Consumers are urged by FSIS not to consume these products and instead toss them or return them to the place of purchase. The items have an establishment number "EST. P-31993" inside the USDA mark of inspection, and they were distributed nationwide.
For those who are concerned about potential health risks, the FSIS advises contacting a medical provider, particularly if you belong to the higher-risk groups who have experienced flu-like symptoms in the past two months after consuming the implicated food. You should seek medical attention and inform your healthcare provider regarding the consumption of the contaminated product. The recall alert also indicates that the problem was discovered during a review of testing results by the FSIS, which showed the product tested positive for the bacteria. The FSIS website includes further details on the recall.
For media inquiries, Garland Ventures' COO Bob Cocat can be reached at 972-485-8878 or at [email protected], while consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Garland Ventures' account managers Evelyn Tsai or Phoebe Hsu at the same number or via their email addresses provided in the FSIS announcement. Consumers seeking further information on food safety or wishing to report a problem can also use the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or file a complaint through the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System available at the FSIS website.
