Del Monte Canned Corn Recall Includes Texas

AUSTIN, TEXAS — The Del Monte Foods recall of more than 64,00 canned corn that could prove life-threatening if consumed includes Texas, federal food regulators said on Thursday.

The company is recalling tens of thousands of cases of "Fiesta Corn" seasoned with red and green peppers due to under-processing, the company said in a recall notice posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The food was distributed across 25 states and a dozen international locations, officials said, including Texas. Walmart and Target are among the retailers that sold the product, officials added.

In addition to Texas, the product was sold in two dozen other states: Alaska, Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. The canned corn also was sold in the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, El Salvador, Haiti, Guyana, Uruguay, Aruba, Panama, Saint Lucia and Suriname.

The missed steps in processing during standard sterilization measures potentially could result in spoilage and possible contamination with life-threatening pathogens if eaten, officials warned. Even though no reports of illness stemming from the under-processed corn have been reported, Del Monte officials said the recall was being undertaken in an abundance of caution.

A main concern over the recalled products is the potential growth of bacteria that could emerge given the lack of thorough processing. Such bacteria includes clostridium botulinum, which creates toxins that trigger botulism poisoning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There were 205 confirmed cases of botulism in the U.S. in 2016 resulting in 29 illnesses, including two fatalities, resulting from tainted food, CDC figures show.

The products subject to recall are 15.25-ounce cans with the UPC number 24000 02770 printed on the label. The product will also have one of the following “Best if Used By” dates stamped on the bottom of the can:

• Aug. 14, 2021.
• Aug. 15, 2021.
• Aug. 16, 2021.
• Sept 3, 2021.
• Sept 4, 2021.
• Sept 5, 2021.
• Sept 6, 2021.
• Sept 22, 2021.
• Sept 23, 2021.

Consumers who purchased the recalled product are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund or exchange, Del Monte officials said. Those with further questions can call (800) 779-7035 during business hours Monday through Friday from Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time or by logging onto www.delmontefoods.com.

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>>> Food label via U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration