Atkins Bars Recalled Over Listeria Concerns

Atkins bars are being recalled over Listeria concerns.

According to Outbreak News Today, Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. has issued a voluntary recall of limited lot codes of certain bar products. It’s believed that products in those categories may contain contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The products may have even come in contact with equipment during process that contained sunflower seeds distributed by supplier SunOpta Inc.

No reports of illness associated with the consumption of Atkins bars on the recall list have been reported. The recall is considered voluntary as a measure of precaution by the company for the consumer due to an expanded recall initiated by sunflower seed supplier SunOpta, Inc.

To find out if you have one of these products, a picture, lot code, UPC code and best by date and can be viewed on the list provided here.

Food recall: Atkins brand bars containing sunflower seeds https://t.co/3s9DekALFu

— Montreal Gazette (@mtlgazette) June 6, 2016

Listeriosis is an uncommon, but is a fatal disease. It’s rare to contract it through the consumption of food. It’s noted in the report that healthy people hardly ever get infected with listeriosis. The condition can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in those who have weak immune systems. These would include infants, the elderly, pregnant women, and persons with human immunodeficiency virus (“HIV”) infection or undergoing chemotherapy. Symptom can consist of fever, headaches, neck stiffness, nausea, confusion, and convulsions.

According to the Montreal Gazette, reports that the Atkins bars being recalled due to Listeria fears are: Atkins Day Break, Chocolaty Hazelnut Bar, 200 g (5 x 40 g bars), with UPC code 6 37480 01532 5; Atkins Day Break, Cranberry Almond, 175 g (5 x 35 g bars), UPC code 6 37480 01568 4; Atkins, Chocolaty Chip Granola Bar, 240 g, (5 x 48 g bars), UPC code 6 37480 35364 9.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued the following report: “Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Symptoms can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, the infection can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn or even stillbirth. In severe cases of illness, people may die.The following products have been sold British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick and may have been sold in other provinces and territories.

“If you think you became sick from eating a recalled product, call your doctor.”

None of the Atkins bars being recalled for Listeria were sold in the United States. They were all sold in parts of Canada and other provinces, as outlined in the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s report. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did alert American consumers of the recalled products, however. It notes in its press release that although “the inner sachets are properly marked as Chocolate Peanut Candies, there is a chance of consumer confusion. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to peanut products may run the risk of serious allergic reaction if they consume these products.”

RT @RecallsDirect: #Atkins Endulge Chocolate Break Bar Recall [UK]: http://t.co/KqCg3u2hlA • More #recalls? http://t.co/R3QeK01oO0

— Living Safely™ (@LS_Health) September 10, 2015

If consumers suspect they have any of the Atkins bars recalled due to Listeria, they’re urged to destroy them and contact Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. Customer Service at 855.201.4611 or atkins@inmar.com Monday through Friday during the hours of 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., EST. The company will issue a free coupon towards a free replacement product. Media with inquiries may contact Jennifer Livingston, Director of Public Relations at 303.620.8148 or jlivingston@atkins.com.

Be sure to double-check any packages that contains Atkins nutrition or candy bars to assure that you don’t have one of the possibly contaminated products.

[Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images]

Atkins Bars Recalled Over Listeria Concerns is an article from: The Inquisitr News