CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH WARNS CONSUMERS NOT TO EAT SOY DELI TOFU PRODUCTS IDENTIFIED IN EXPANDED RECALL
NUMBER: 07-45
DATE: October 3, 2007
CONTACT: Suanne Buggy or Lea Brooks, (916) 440-7259
SACRAMENTO – Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health, today warned consumers not to eat Soy Deli brand tofu products identified in an expanded recall because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a dangerous bacterium that may cause serious health problems. Pregnant women, the elderly, persons with weakened immune systems and infants are especially at risk for infections from this bacterial organism.
Quong Hop and Co. of South San Francisco, the manufacturer, yesterday expanded its recall of some of its tofu products last month to include all of the products identified below with date codes of 11/28/07 and 1/28/08 or any date code prior to the dates listed:
Date Code Product Package Size
1/28/08 or before Soy Deli Five Spice Baked Tofu 8 ounce
1/28/08 or before Soy Deli Hickory Baked Tofu 8 ounce
1/28/08 or before Soy Deli Honey Sesame Baked Tofu 8 ounce
1/28/08 or before Soy Deli Teriyaki Baked Tofu 8 ounce
1/28/08 or before Soy Deli Savory Baked Tofu 8 ounce
1/28/08 or before Soy Deli Mesquite Smoked Tofu 8 ounce
1/28/08 or before Soy Deli Hawaiian Style Fried Tofu 8 ounce
1/28/08 or before Soy Deli Nigari Vacuum Pack Tofu 8 ounce
1/28/08 or before Soy Deli Original Burger 6 ounce
1/28/08 or before Soy Deli Garden Burger 6 ounce
1/28/08 or before Soy Deli Barbeque Burger 6 ounce
1/28/08 or before Soy Deli Teriyaki Burger 6 ounce
1/28/08 or before Soy Deli Cajun Burger 6 ounce
1/28/08 or before Soy Deli Nigari Vacuum Pack Tofu 12 ounce
11/28/07 or before Soy Deli Water Packed Tofu – Orange 12 ounce
11/28/07 or before Soy Deli Water Packed Tofu – Blue 12 ounce
11/28/07 or before Soy Deli Water Packed Tofu – Red 12 ounce
11/28/07 or before Quong Hop Water Packed Tofu – Red 16 ounce
11/28/07 or before Soy Deli Nigari Tofu 30 ounce
11/28/07 or before Soy Deli (Bulk) Nigari Tofu 10 pound
11/28/07 or before Soy Deli Nigari Tofu – Medium 10 pound
11/28/07 or before Soy Deli Nigari Tofu – 54 piece 10 pound
11/28/07 or before Soy Deli Nigari Tofu – Firm 10 pound and 25 pound
These recalled products were distributed to supermarkets and natural food stores on the West Coast and throughout the Midwest. In California, the products were distributed to the following chain stores statewide: Albertsons, Andronicos, Lunardi, Mollie Stones, Pavilion, PW Markets, Ralphs, Safeway, Save Mart, Stater Bros, Vons and Whole Foods Market. No illnesses have been reported in association with these products.
Last month’s recall was initiated after routine surveillance sampling conducted by the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Program detected Listeria monocytogenes in a 12-ounce package of “Soy Deli Firm Organic Nigari Tofu.” The latest recall was expanded to include all tofu products that bear the use by dates previously referenced and all use by dates prior to these dates after additional laboratory analysis confirmed Listeria monocytogenes in recently manufactured products.
Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as fever, headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women and serious and sometimes fatal infections in the elderly, persons with weakened immune systems and newborns. Consumers with any of these symptoms should call their physician.
Consumers who purchased these products should immediately discard them or return them to the point of purchase. Consumers with questions can call Quong Hop at
1-650-553-9900.