Recall Issued for Stuffed Sandwiches That Could be Contaminated

Zachary Stieber
By Zachary Stieber
April 8, 2019US News
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Recall Issued for Stuffed Sandwiches That Could be Contaminated
  1. A nationwide recall has been issued for stuffed sandwiches that might contain plastic inside them.

The sandwiches were produced by J & J Snack Foods Handhelds Corp., based in Holly Ridge, North Carolina.

Approximately 56,578 pounds of the stuffed sandwich products may be contaminated with semi-transparent plastic, triggering the recall, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The products were produced on Feb. 19 and Feb. 20 and sold under the Bremer brand name.

All the products contain the establishment number “EST. 27231” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

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Pepperoni Pizza hot stuffed sandwiches sold under the Bremer label were recalled because they could contain plastic. (FSIS)
NTD Photo
Ham & Cheese hot stuffed sandwiches sold under the Bremer label were recalled because they could contain plastic. (FSIS)

They were shipped nationwide, the agency said in an alert. The health risk for the recall was labeled “high.”

Anyone who believes they suffered an injury or illness from consuming the products should contact a healthcare provider. Anyone who has the products should throw them out or return them to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Kristyn Castellante, Customer Relations Coordinator at (856) 532-6611.

The two products under recall are:

9-oz. carton packages containing 2 stuffed pepperoni sandwiches with “Bremer CLASSIC PEPPERONI PIZZA Hot Stuffed Sandwiches” and best if used by dates of “AUG 12 2020” or “AUG 13 2020” on the label.

9-oz. carton packages containing 2 ham and cheese sandwiches with “Bremer CLASSIC HAM & CHEESE Hot Stuffed Sandwiches” and best if used by dates of “AUG 12 2020” or “AUG 13 2020” on the label.

NTD Photo
(FSIS)
NTD Photo
(FSIS)

Recalls

According to a report (pdf) published by the Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service published in 2018, there were an average of 304 recalls between 2004 and 2008 and an average of 676 recalls between 2009 and 2013.

The following six food categories accounted for most of the recalls across those years: prepared foods and meals, 11.9 percent; nuts, seeds, and nut products, 10.9 percent; baked goods, 9 percent; grains and grain products, 8.4 percent; candy products, 7.9 percent, and sauces, condiments, and dressings, 5 percent.

The most common reason for each category except for nuts was failure to declare major allergens. The most common reason for nut recalls was possible Salmonella contamination.

Overall, 41 percent of the recalls were the result of pathogen contamination, such as Salmonella or E. Coli, while 27.4 percent were the result of undeclared allergens.

NTD Photo
(USDA Economic Research Service)
NTD Photo
(USDA Economic Research Service)
NTD Photo
(USDA Economic Research Service)
NTD Photo
(USDA Economic Research Service)

The most significant recall event between 2004 and 2013 took place in January 2009. Peanut butter linked to a Salmonella outbreak was recalled.

The outbreak was ultimately responsible for at least 714 illnesses and nine deaths, and led to the recall of a number of products containing peanut butter or peanut paste, including cookies, crackers, and cereal; overall, over 400 separate recalls related to the outbreak occurred.

Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, a common bacterial foodborne illness which causes an estimated 1.2 illnesses and 450 deaths in the United States every year, noted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),

Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after consuming a contaminated product. Most people recover without treatment; most of those hospitalized suffer from severe diarrhea. The illness typically lasts four to seven days.

According to the CDC, roughly 1 in 6 Americans, or 48 million people, get sick every year from foodborne diseases such as Salmonella. Of those, approximately 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die.

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