Health officials announce two recalls, one linked to The Fort

Two salmonella-linked food recalls, one of them “likely linked” to an outbreak of the disease among customers at a popular Jeffco restaurant, were announced by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment this week.

In a recall that health officials believe is linked to the Fort Restaurant in Morrison, Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa, is voluntarily recalling eggs produced by its farms on specific dates because of possible Salmonella contamination.

Salmonella enteritidis is a food-borne bacterium that causes serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people with the disease often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In a handful of cases, Salmonella can enter the bloodstream and produce more severe illnesses such as infected aneurysms, endocarditis and arthritis.

The eggs were distributed to food wholesalers, distribution centers and food service companies in Colorado and seven other states. The recall includes eggs packaged under the following brand names: Lucerne (Safeway Brand), Albertsons, Mountain Dairy, Ralph’s, Boomsma’s, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps. The recall involves eggs in shells only. Other egg products produced by Wright County Egg are not affected.

The recalled eggs are packaged in cartons containing six, 12 and 18 eggs with production date codes ranging from 136 to 225, and plant numbers 1026, 1413 and 1946. Production date codes and plant numbers can be found stamped on the end of each egg carton. The stamp begins with the letter P, followed by the plant number and then the production date code (for example, P-1946 223). Anyone who may have purchased these eggs should return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

The second recall involves fruit pulp marketed by Goya Foods, Inc., recalled its frozen mamey product as a precaution due to possible contamination. Mamey is a tropical fruit often used in smoothies.

Goya’s pulp product, which is produced in Guatemala, was distributed at Safeway, SmartCo, Liborio Markets and various smaller retail outlets in Colorado.

It has a Goya label and is in a 14-ounce plastic package with UPC code 041331090803. All production lot codes are being recalled. State health officials advise consumers to check their freezers and discard any remaining product.

Consumers who have purchased Goya-brand frozen mamey pulp may contact Goya Foods’ Consumer Affairs Department, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., EDT, at 1-800-275-4692.

Over the past two months there has been an increase in reported cases of this strain of Salmonella, according to Colorado epidemiologists. Normally, an average of seven cases of this strain are reported in Colorado during the months of June and July. But this year 28 cases were reported in June and July.

At least some of the state’s dramatic increase “likely is linked to this egg recall and includes cases from a recent outbreak involving The Fort restaurant in Jefferson County,” according to a state health department spokeswoman.

The Centers for Disease Control based in Atlanta also reports a 400 percent increase in the disease nationwide.