J&D Produce Recall Expands to 18 Other Vegetables, Greens

(Edinburg, TX – December 30, 2010) A Texas produce company in the Rio Grande Valley that has already recalled some 7,000 cases of Salmonella-tainted cilantro and curly parsley has now recalled 18 other vegetables and leafy greens, all processed on the same packing lines.

Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocardititis and arthritis.

J&D Produce Inc. announced Wednesday that the possibility of cross contamination prompted it to also recall arugula, beets, collards, mustard greens, daikon, dill, kohlrabi, chard, kale, mint, turnip tops, turnips and leeks shipped to 16 states and two Canadian provinces.

“It’s imperative to protect public health, even if that means being overzealous in expanding the scope of the products we’re calling back,” said James Bassetti, president of J&D Produce Inc., in a news release. “We will work closely with regulators, health officials and our customers in bringing back the products.”

All the produce was packed in red, white, and blue waxed cartons under the Little Bear brand. Except for daikon, the individual bunches have a rubber band or a twist tie identified by a flag tag that shows a little bear with a cowboy hat, a red handkerchief and a Texas flag. The produce went to retail stores and wholesale terminal markets in Washington, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Missouri, Rhode Island, New York, Texas, Ohio, Connecticut, Ohio, Colorado, Illinois and Oklahoma — and the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

All the produce was packed either on Nov. 30, 2010, or Dec. 6, 2010, which is a clarification from the company’s announcement earlier this week. The company says most of these types of greens are typically sold and eaten within about 14 days from their “pack dates”; however, it suggests that if consumers still have any of the produce it should be destroyed or returned to the store where it was purchased for a full refund.

“We’re all seeing increased inspections by regulators and health officials here in the U.S. and Canada, and that’s positive because it helps further ensure public health,” Bassetti said in a prepared statement. “We’ve already implemented immediate measures to make sure we minimize the likelihood of this re-occurring.” For example, the company said that upon learning of the test in Quebec, Bassetti ordered the shutdown of all production lines; re-sanitized the production lines; increased manual inspections; and implemented additional product rinse steps.

Bassetti said he has also brought in outside consultants to review and advise the company on additional microbiological sampling and its food safety protocols. “We have a good track record, but we’ll bring our expectations and standards to even bigger levels,” he said.

For additional information, contact J&D Produce by email at: or by phone at 956-380-0353.

Note: Pathogen contamination of leafy vegetables and herbs continue to be a problem in the marketplace, causing consumers to be wary of buying them. Growponics Americas, LLC, soon to break ground on a new facility in Midlothian, TX will produces commercial quantities of hydroponic, pesticide/herbicide/ residue-free, pathogen-free, leafy green vegetables and herbs, and vine plants, while making optimal use of resources, such as water, energy, labor and land. Its system to grow all leafy greens and herbs is a unique, Israeli, shallow water, rotating floating-bed technology to supply the local/ regional market, in any location, 24/365. Its goal is to provide healthy, tasty, and fresh hydroponic leafy greens and herbs to the marketplace at field-grown prices to make it more accessible to the general public.