Whole Foods was cited by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for committing health violations at its Massachusetts plant. The affected kitchen facility provides the prepared food items for 74 different stores in several states, including New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Maine, and Rhode Island.
The prepared food items are incredibly popular at the Whole Foods grocery stores because shoppers generally like the idea of having ready-made meals and not needing to worry about preparing them at home. For the grocery store company, the prepared meals provide a big boost to profit margins because they can be quickly and cheaply produced in a processing plant. The problem is that Whole Foods may have failed to invest the resources needed to protect consumers against dangerous contamination and illness when eating these quicker, cheaper meals.
One of the biggest problems found by inspectors was a failure by Whole Foods to prepare and store pesto pasta in cool spaces, leading to microorganism growth on the food products. Additionally, mushroom quesadilla products were reportedly stored in an area where condensation dripped from the ceiling, which also led to dangerous food contamination.
Earlier Recall of Contaminated Food Items at Whole Foods
In 2015, Whole Foods had to recall food items that included curry chicken salad and deli pasta salad from East Coast stores. The contaminated items tested positive for listeria, which is bacteria that can have deadly consequences for certain groups of people, including the elderly, young children, and anyone with a weakened immune system.
For more information, read the Yahoo.com article, “Whole Foods Must Clean Up Its Act, FDA Says.”
If you or someone you know became ill or sustained an injury as a result of consuming a dangerous food product, you should talk to a qualified product liability and personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. The experienced NJ product liability and personal injury attorneys at Andres, Berger & Tran can help you get maximum compensation for your illness or injury. Contact us now to schedule a free consultation.
