UPDATE: Shoppers concerned over recalled product in supermarkets

Fresh Frozen can be found in supermarkets in Dominica
Fresh Frozen can be found in supermarkets in Dominica

Dominica News Online has been reliably informed that authorities have begun an investigation into the sale of a product in Dominica which was voluntarily recalled in the US by the company that produces it.

Inventure Foods Inc. recalled its line of frozen vegetables, “Fresh Frozen,” after listeria was found in one of the company’s facilities following a routine US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspection.

DNO checked several supermarkets around Roseau and the product was found in at least two.

A source told DNO on Friday afternoon that the Environmental Health Unit,has confiscated the product from at least one supermarket in Roseau and will be visiting more.

The Unit is now working in collaboration with the Consumer Affairs Department in the Ministry of Trade to investigate the matter, which will also include customs, according to the source.

One shopper told DNO that she bought Fresh Frozen product at a supermarket on Friday 24, April 2015 and has since consumed it.

Now she is not sure what would happen if her family gets sick.

“This needs to be made public as my family bought one of the products listed couple days ago and consumed it,” she said. “Why have our supermarkets not recalled it? If my family gets sick then what?”

According to the FDA, “Listeria is an organism that can cause infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.”

The FDA noted that although there has been no known illness linked to the consumption of “Fresh Frozen,” Inventure Foods Inc. “has decided to err on the side of utmost caution and issue a voluntary recall…”

Some of the items which form part of the “Fresh Frozen” recall have already been pulled out of the shelves in St. Lucia by CFL store.

“The company has already activated its internal food recall procedures and has removed all existing inventory of the said products from its supermarket shelves and warehouse,” CFL said in a release earlier this week. “Anyone who purchased the ‘Fresh Frozen’ product lines from CFL can return them to the CFL store where the purchase was made for a full refund.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON THE RECALL

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40 Comments

  1. The Facts
    May 5, 2015

    From time to time in Canada we hear of recalls also on processed foods and cans from the US and elsewhere. I hardly ever purchase these. In fact, I cannot recall when last I purchased them.
    Whenever I hear of recalls, I thank God my household contains none.
    Some of the produce are grown in green houses. What type of soil is used to grow them?
    Some of them are forced-grown. How healthy are they?
    Our local produce never got anyone sick to this day. No recalls either. :lol: :lol: :lol:
    My advice to Dominican residents, do not purchase frozen produce when you can purchase local or grow your own. This is a lesson for you. Hope you pay heed.

  2. Concern
    May 3, 2015

    I purchased this frozen item from a supermarket in town sometime in April 2015 I consumed two portions from it thereafter. I believe that I am suffering from a few of the symptoms.OMG

    • The Facts
      May 4, 2015

      What symptoms? Symptoms of only the recall I hope. :lol: :lol: :lol:
      No joking! If you feel ill you should visit your doctor.
      Knowing how imports could be expensive, I wonder how much it cost you? $10.00 or more?
      As I have stated, buy local. Better yet, if you have ample and suitable property around your home, grow your vegetables. They are not difficult to grow especially lettuce and tomatoes.
      Some people in progressive countries (where winter months are long) who reside in apartments also grow them in suitable containers on their balconies in summer.

  3. listen not, you feel
    May 2, 2015

    Frozen Vegetables, “fresh frozen” from USA?

    In a Land of fertile soil and abundance of water, Dominicans feed themselves on pesticide filled veggies from US?

    Didn’t the PM, while on his trip to Malaysia disclose a major shift in policy? His Gov’t moving away from agriculture and moving into services? What about all the diverse services that agriculture provide, jobs, jobs, Food security, $$$$$$$$$$$, rural development, so many? Did the PM think before making such a unwise, unthinkable, unilateral decision? Worst yet Dominicans were never informed, nor their input sought on that decision.

    Who cares even their health is jeopardized because of those fast foods, junk foods, unhealthy foods? Sections of our people ridicule, curse those who advocate for more resources, investments, proper planning re, agricultural sector to improve the lives of citizens.

    For Years the authorities will not listen. The cabal’s main thrust is passports’ selling and dependence…

    • The Facts
      May 4, 2015

      Do not place the blame on the PM. Some of you have a tendency to do so.
      What about the business owners? Surely, they should know better not to order produce from the US.
      Consider the distance from Dominica. How is this produce also handled and stored?
      As for eating fast foods, everyone should know how much to consume and how frequently. People must take care of themselves and not depend solely on government and also health authorities. They must take charge of their health.

  4. Clayton Shillingford
    May 2, 2015

    Why have the supermarkets not been identified in this DNO article// Has any action been taken by the Health Authorities

  5. ANTHONY MAYERS
    May 2, 2015

    I am in Barbados; I will alert the Ministry of Health here about this imported product; Also we are trying to revitalize backyard gardening and agriculture here;

  6. polibureau
    May 2, 2015

    do the numbers on the packages correspond with those onm the recall list issued by the company ?

  7. The Facts
    May 1, 2015

    I reside in Canada and if I can help it I will not purchase frozen vegetables especially the mixed ones as leafy green and the likes. I have heard about some vegetables which were recalled and I would never purchase them. I love fresh vegetables. I like to make my own salads and cook/steam the vegetables. Prior to this I wash them carefully. We cannot go wrong doing that.
    Furthermore, those who purchase frozen vegetables do not know under what conditions they were grown and produced and if they were washed.
    What is the cost of one? Anyway, D/cans should not be purchasing frozen vegetables. It is high time to spend some time or your free time and grow your own, everything possible.
    This is where the farmers come in. Grow vegetables and fruits, whatever is possible for also the consumption of D/cans.
    Keep them local and buy local should be the headlines and your advertisement. Hopefully they are sold at a reasonable cost.

  8. looking on
    May 1, 2015

    I bought one of the products being recalled. How do I get my money back from the local supermarket?

    • The Facts
      May 4, 2015

      The government should issue a directive to D/cans about that. Consult the appropriate government department for this information. Furthermore, do you still have the cash register receipt? You know where you purchased it. You should contact that store management.

  9. Proud Dominican
    May 1, 2015

    hmmmm up to tonite the vegetables hard in Acs fridge, plz manager of Acs people health come first before money,

  10. out of south city
    May 1, 2015

    Why are we consuming foods from overseas when we have the land to grow our own? Why do we think that everything from America is better than what we grow locally? We need to stop that habit and get back to the land that we are blessed with. Consume what is locally grown, my people!!!!!!!!!!!

    PEACE

    • Black Nobility
      May 2, 2015

      Once a slave is broken in their mentality it’s very hard to retrain them.

      • The Facts
        May 4, 2015

        I would not use those words. Generally, people like new products and like to try them especially if the cost is reasonable. I am certain this could be the reason they purchased that product.
        It is high time to shed slavery and black this and that. When you do not, you are reverting to those dark, gloomy and sad life of the millions who have suffered at those hands. They have since gone. We have been residing in a different era and should move forward and continue to do so.
        I am certain those ancestors, if they could see us, are happy that their descendants do not live the type of life they did, through no fault of their own. They are telling us: “Go on children of God go on. The power of God has brought us through. He can do the same for you. . .” These are some words of a song which I have. They are very consoling.
        We are in a progressive world. Look forward. Thank God slavery has been abolished some years ago and it will never repeat itself.

  11. UserName
    May 1, 2015

    To make matters worse Consolidated Foods Limited (CFL) in St. Lucia issued a public statement dated 28 April 2015. A spokesperson for the company said “the company has ALREADY activated its internal food recall procedures and has removed all existing inventory of the said products from its supermarket shelves and warehouse.” More importantly “CFL has ALREADY informed the Ministry of Health’s Environmental Department and the St. Lucia Bureau of Standards of steps taken to date, in relation to how the recall has been handled by the company.” What did our local supermarkets who sell these products do in relation the advice from Inventure Foods, Inc. A criminal injunction should be filed to set the example. You playing with people health hoping nothing will happen JUST to make your pocket fat. You even stay there in your office silent and said absolutely nothing. What happen you decided not to err on the side of utmost caution. This is not a civil matter, the STATE should file a…

  12. UserName
    May 1, 2015

    The press release from Inventure Foods, Inc. is dated 23 April 2015 from Phoenix, AR. This story is being reported on DNO 1 May 2015. The question we should ask is why did the local supermarkets not VOLUNTARILY recall that line of product from their own shelves. Instead we hearing that the EHU had to get involve to the point of CONFISCATION.. Legal charges against these supermarkets should follow..

  13. HOME GROWN
    May 1, 2015

    PEOPLE of DOMINICA, stop your madness and plant the ground. Instant gratification will kill you. I plant my own vegetables and herbs all WINTER long right in my house on the window ledge.

  14. TRUTH
    May 1, 2015

    Eat what we grow!!

  15. Marti
    May 1, 2015

    Why on earth people in Dominica have to buy pre-packaged frozen food all the way from the US? Is it that difficult to buy local or grow your own vegetables?

  16. May 1, 2015

    That is why we are complaining about poverty in Dominica. We have the fertile soil to grow our own produce, fruits, and other foods–but our young people do not want to work the land.

    Seem as if we are selling the land to other people, who replace the land for planting and growing with large houses–at least that is what I noticed when I was in Dominica in 2013 and 2008.

    But we cannot eat the money, which we receive for selling our land, nor can we feed it to our children–what else can the supermarkets do, if not import processed foods that is health hazard.

    Even the owners of the local supermarkets themselves could have their own production of local foods–that is the way unemployment can be reduced–if only our young people would be willing to do the work.

  17. UserName
    May 1, 2015

    DNO has done its check in and around Roseau and found at least 2 supermarkets selling the product. Why is it then the EHD ONLY confiscated the product from one supermarket. Is something or somebody bigger than the EHD

  18. grell
    May 1, 2015

    This is good for them ,dominica has all this rich soil and yet they consume all this processed cancer causing products,esp all this can stuff,this is the price for becoming so lazy and depending on handouts.go back to the farms and plant.Lazy people.

    • lee williams
      May 2, 2015

      Very good point ,my people have become lazy and depend heavily on hand outs.wht a good government we have , that was their plan all along

  19. gdj
    May 1, 2015

    All vegetables get contaminated. Frozen items are even cheaper than the local vegetables bought here in Dominica.

    • Tizhan
      May 1, 2015

      Well you get what you pay for – cheap shite and listeria.

  20. Dominic
    May 1, 2015

    d red clinic make every body lazy

  21. Holiday Island Boy
    May 1, 2015

    Not to worry, those recalled products in the USA,will probably be placed in containers and shipped to the Caribbean.
    We are blessed with sunshine, rainfall and extremely arable lands, yet we forsake all of this to eat rejects from other countries.

    • Tizhan
      May 1, 2015

      Good point. They were probably shipped to Dominica after having been recalled in the US

  22. qstorm78
    May 1, 2015

    What’s a little mal-vant once in a while.??. :-D :-D .. Support Local

  23. Local
    May 1, 2015

    We have become a people who like things ready-made and quick. Let us plant, buy local and avoid these pre-packaged foods as much as possible.

  24. Zandoli
    May 1, 2015

    But who is to say local produce have not been contaminated from time to time. The only reason we are talking about that is because they do testing in the States.

    One the vegetables are cooked properly you have nothing to worry about.

    • May 1, 2015

      Zandoli, you can’t cook veggies too long.they lose their vitamins value.Cooking destroys vitamins

      • Thor
        May 1, 2015

        Trust me, we cook everything in Dominica to the point where everything is killed – pathogens and vitamins.

  25. smh
    May 1, 2015

    we should not be importing vegetables in the first place. support local

  26. Truth be Told
    May 1, 2015

    The Caribbean imports frozen vegetables from the USA? Time to close down these islands!

  27. oli
    May 1, 2015

    Buy local, eat local. These attractive Genetically engineered and produced foods imported here should be avoided.

    • BUCKET IN THE WELL
      May 1, 2015

      There are harmful pesticides and herbicides used here too. Locally produced Organic veggies are extremely costly. Unless you decide to do in in your backyard, you are never entirely safe.

  28. May 1, 2015

    It is a shame that Dominicans buy these frozen foods coming all the way from the U.S.How fresh are these foods?Plant your veggies in your backyard and then you will eat fresh.We have become too lazy

  29. mrs deadly
    May 1, 2015

    hey i use the one named drumond is it infected as well?

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