Hummus Recalled From QFC Stores in Washington, Oregon Over Listeria Concern

Local QFC stores have pulled hummus products from shelves after a voluntary recall was initiated by a local company concerned with possible contamination of the prepared food with Listeria monocytogenes.

The Oregonian reported that Penny’s Salsa of Auburn, WA initiated a recall of certain hummus products Sunday after two types of the spread tested positive for Listeria.

Penny's Salsa, which has operated since 1996, is wholly owned by Hagee Foods, Inc. of Auburn.

QFC is the only retailer selling the hummus in Oregon, according to the newspaper. A list of Washington retailers was not available, but Patch confirmed that several Puget Sound-area stores had pulled the hummus from their shelves. All of the hummus products with use by dates between July 13 and August 25 have been recalled, the Oregonian said.

The hummus can be refunded or exchanged at QFC stores.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) a person with listeriosis usually has fever and muscle aches, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. Almost everyone who is diagnosed with listeriosis has "invasive" infection, in which the bacteria spread beyond the gastrointestinal tract. The symptoms vary with the infected person:

• Pregnant women: Pregnant women typically experience fever and other non-specific symptoms, such as fatigue and aches. However, infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn 
• People other than pregnant women: Symptoms, in addition to fever and muscle aches, can include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.