February 07, 2023
Some pre-packaged food and snacks sold on Amtrak trains have been recalled for possible bacteria contamination.
Fresh Ideation, a Baltimore-based manufacturer, recalled more than 400 products, including sandwiches, salads, snacks, yogurt and wraps, after sample tests came back positive with traces of listeria, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.
The food had been served on Amtrak's Northeast Regional and Acela services from Jan. 24 to Jan. 29. They were also sold in vending machines and stores throughout Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia.
The recalled items were labeled Fresh Creative Cuisine, and have fresh-through or sell-through dates ranging from Jan. 31 through Feb. 6.
"We immediately stopped serving these products and promptly removed them from our trains upon notification," Amtrak wrote in an email to customers. "All products currently served onboard are completely safe to consume. If you purchased products on the train during this timeframe and saved for future consumption, please dispose of the product."
There have been no illnesses reported that can be linked to Amtrak passengers eating these items. Consumers who bought any of these products are asked to contact Fresh Ideation at (855)-969-3338 during business hours, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Listeria is an infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms of listeria usually include temporary fever, headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. The infection is more common among young children, pregnant women, adults 65 and older and people with weakened immune systems.
