Listeria in hummus prompts national recall by Sabra

Robin Erb | Detroit Free Press

Note: This story is from 2015. Another recall was issued, separately, in November 2016.

The presence of potentially deadly listeria in several samples of hummus has prompted a national recall by Virginia-based Sabra Dipping Co. of 30,000 cases of Classic Hummus.

Inspectors with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development learned of the possible contamination by listeria monocytogenes after routine inspections March 30 at a Kroger in Port Huron, according to Jennifer Holton, MDARD spokeswoman.

Samples from the prepackaged product were collected for testing, and the results came back days later. Michigan officials alerted inspectors in Virginia and officials with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration who, in turn, are working with Sabra.

The recall is limited to five stock unit, or SKU, numbers of Classic Hummus. No other Sabra product is affected at this time.

READ: FDA press release on Sabra recall

In healthy individuals, listeria monocytogenes may cause short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. But it can cause serious, and sometimes fatal, infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems, and it can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

To date, there are no reported cases of sickness.

U.S. Consumers should discard packages with the following codes, which are located on the top of each package. They can also return them to stores for a refund, Holton said.

Consumers with any questions can call Sabra at 888-957-2272 weekdays.

These are the codes:

040822011143/300067 – Sabra Classic, 10 oz. – 3-059/Best before May 11;

040822011143/300067 – Sabra Classic 10 oz. - 3-060/Best before May 15

040822014687/300074 – Sabra Classic, 30 oz. – 3-059/Best before May 11

040822342049/301216 – Sabra Classic Without Garnish, 32 oz. – 3-059/Best before May 11

040822017497/301290 – Sabra Classic, 17 oz. Six Pack – 3-058/Best before May 11

040822017497/301290 – Sabra Classic, 17 oz. Six Pack – 3-059/Best before May 11

040822342209/301283 – Hummus Dual Pack Classic/Garlic – 3-058/Best before May 11