Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA-based Bueno Foods announced a voluntarily recall of its frozen green chile pepper range on February 11.
The reason for the decision, according to a press release issued by the company, is that the products have potential to contain low levels of microorganisms, including the common bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, in their uncooked, raw, non-ready-to-eat state.
Tests performed on green chile samples prepared per cooking instructions on product labels showed no listeria present, the company said, and there have been no reports of listeriosis infection outbreaks or other maladies to date.
“We are committed to providing a safe food supply to our customers,” said Jackie Baca, president of Bueno Foods, which conducts business formally as El Encanto, Inc. “We pride ourselves as having some of the highest health and safety standards in the industry, and are taking this action as a precaution.”
Listeria, which could cause illness or even death, may naturally be present in non-ready-to-eat agricultural products. This is why food products such as frozen green chile should be thoroughly cooked before eaten. Bueno Foods’ retail and foodservice packaging clearly spells out: “Do not consume uncooked chile. Cook to 165° F before eating…”
No other Bueno Foods products have been affected by the recall. The company is working to resolve potential issues and expects to have its green chile product line back on store shelves within two weeks.
Bueno Foods is a second-generation family-owned frozen food packer that has been in business since 1951. It manufactures, prepares, and distributes more than 150 food products to retail and restaurant customers throughout the USA. In addition to flame-roasted green chile sourced from the Hatch and Rio Grande River Valley regions of New Mexico, its product line includes red chile, tortillas, salsas, and a range of ready-to-serve prepared items such as tamales and enchiladas.
