ConAgra Foods announced that it has resumed production of its Banquet and generic label pot pies, which were part of a nationwide recall begun on October 11, 2007, due to Salmonella contamination.
The Salmonella food poisoning outbreak linked to the pot pies sickened at least 272 people in 35 states, and at least 65 people were hospitalized.
According to a ConAgra news release, the company has not identified the source of the Salmonella contamination; however, enhanced protocols for their ready-to-cook manufacturing plants have been developed, including new and more stringent testing protocols for ingredients coming into plants and further testing of finished products.
ConAgra has been criticized about the amount of time that passed between its knowledge of the link between its pot pies and the food poisoning outbreak and the time it took to issue a recall. The pies were later shown to be contaminated with Salmonella.
On October 9, The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced a Public Health Alert, warning that although consumers could still purchase the pot pies, they posed a serious health risk, and therefore should not be eaten. While some grocery stores chose to remove the pot pies from their freezer shelves, other stores placed the Salmonella contaminated pies on sale, encouraging consumers that stock their freezers with the dangerous product.
ConAgra finally recalled the contaminated pot pies on October 11. The recall included all Banquet pot pies as well as all varieties sold under the store brands Albertson's, Hill Country Fare, Food Lion, Great Value (sold at Wal-Mart stores), Kirkwood, Kroger, Meijer and Western Family.
This was the second time this year that ConAgra recalled one of its products due to Salmonella contamination. In February, ConAgra recalled all of its peanut butter products after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) linked its Peter Pan peanut butter to a Salmonella outbreak that sickened at least 625 people in 47 states.
The Law Firm of Eric Weinberg currently represents individuals who have been sickened in the current Salmonella food poisoning outbreak linked to ConAgra pot pies and their recall. If you believe that your illness is linked to this recall, please call us toll free at 1-877-934-6274, or see Free Case Evaluation. Our firm currently represents victims of the Arby’s, Peter Pan peanut butter Recall, Veggie Booty Recall, and Taste of Chicago Salmonella food poisoning outbreaks.
