I got this email today while I was teaching at Cornell:

While I appreciate the extra press directed at MDP, you should know that the samples in question were NOT taken nor tested by MDP personnel, and were not part of the MDP sampling regimen at all.  This sample was taken as part of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Market’s regulatory food surveillance program. Our inspectors routinely sample various sprout products (and many other foods as well) to be tested for a variety of pathogens – L. monocytogenes among them. The personnel at the state’s food laboratory do the testing for the bugs in question.

Thanks for the correction!

Manna Organics, Inc. of Newark, NJ, is recalling various soybean sprouts and tofu products listed in the table below because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The recalled products were distributed to various restaurants, retailers, and distributors in NY, NJ, PA, MA, VA, MD, CT, GA, IL, and TX on or after July 17, 2012.

The Jinga Firm and Soft, SooNyeoWon Firm and Soft Tofu are packaged in a square 16-ounce white plastic container with the label sealed on top with UPC Codes: 0 28346 09112 4, 0 28346 09111 7, 0 28346 07812 5 and 0 28346 07814 9. Expiration date of September 9, 2012 or later is printed in black on top of the label.

The 5 pieces and 10 pieces tofu are packaged in a white plastic bucket. The 5 pieces and 10 pieces are lidded and labeled in Korean “Healthy Tofu” with UPC Codes 0 28346 09125 4 and 0 28346 09129 2. Affected products have an expiration date of July 25, 2012 or later.

The Soy Milk is packaged in a 1.3 gallon white plastic pail.

The Large Tofu Bucket(30 pieces), Soon tofu, and Small Tofu are packaged in a large, white plastic pail enclosed in a plastic bag labeled TOFU with the company name, address, and nutritional information listed directly below. Affected products have an expiration date of July 25, 2012 or later.

SooNyeoWon Silken Tofu is packaged in a small 14-ounce square plastic container with the label sealed on top. It has a UPC Code of 0 28346 09113 1. There is an expiration date printed in black on top of the label. Affected products have an expiration date of September 9, 2012 or later.

The Soybean Sprouts 16-ounce products come in a clear plastic sealed bag colored in red or green with the labels SOONYEOWON SOYBEAN SPROUTS or SOONYEOWON HEALTHY SOYBEAN SPROUTS with UPC Codes 0 28346 07121 8 and 0 28346 07140 9. The Soybean Sprouts 10lbs. and 5 lbs. bags come in a clear hand tied plastic poly bag labeled SPROUTS with the company info directly beneath it.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The potential for contamination was noted after random testing by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in a 16-ounce package of SOONYEOWON SOYBEAN SPROUTS. As a PRECAUTION, a product wide recall is being initiated.

The production has been suspended while FDA and the company continue to investigate the source of the problem.

Name	Package Size	UPC Code	Expiration Date
Soonyeowon Soybean Sprouts	16 oz.	0 28346 07121 8	N/A
Soybean Sprouts	10 lbs.	N/A	N/A
Soybean Sprouts	5 lbs.	N/A	N/A
Soonyeowon Healthy Soybean Sprouts	16 oz.	0 28346 07140 9	N/A
Jinga Firm Tofu	16 oz.	0 28346 09112 4	09/09/2012 or Later
Jinga Soft Tofu	16 oz.	0 28346 09111 7	09/09/2012 or Later
Soonyeowon Firm Tofu	16 oz.	0 28346 07812 5	09/09/2012 or Later
Soonyeowon Soft Tofu	16 oz.	0 28346 07814 9	09/09/2012 or Later
Soonyeowon Silken Tofu	14 oz.	0 28346 09113 1	09/09/2012 or Later
Tofu Large Bucket (30 pcs.)	5 gal.	N/A	07/25/2012 or Later
10 pcs. Tofu	1.3 gal	0 28346 09129 2	07/25/2012 or Later
5 pcs. Tofu	2.5 l	0 28346 09125 4	07/25/2012 or Later
Soon Tofu	5 gal	N/A	07/25/2012 or Later
Soy Milk	1.3 gal	N/A	N/A
Small Tofu	5 gal	N/A	07/25/2012 or Later