Minn. food company expands voluntary recall

A Minnesota food company has expanded its voluntary recall after a state inspection found that all products at the company's Coon Rapids facility may have contaminated by bacteria.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has advised consumers to discard any food made at the Parkers Farm facility. The agency had issued a more limited advisory on Jan. 8.

The facility produces peanut butter, cheese, salsa, cream cheese bagel spreads, and other products under several labels, including Parkers Farm, Happy Farms, Central Markets, and others.

The state's Department of Agriculture said sampling found that some of the products were contaminated with the bacteria that can cause listeriosis, a rare but potentially serious disease.

No illnesses have been reported. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis, but it can cause fatal infections in infants, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. The bacteria can also lead to miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.

The products were distributed in retail stores nationwide, including Hy-Vee, Cub, Rainbow, Lunds/Byerly's, Target, Whole Foods, Jewel, Dominick's, Marsh, Price Chopper, Shop Rite, Nash Finch, Sam's Club, Costco, Safeway, Kroger, Wal-Mart, and Aldi stores.

A list of recalled products can be found at http://www.mda.state.mn.us.