Starbucks Recall Response

Earlier this week, Starbucks recalled some of its new bistro boxes because the chicken could be contaminated with Listeria, according news reports . Now, Starbucks is issuing a statement regarding the recall:

“As previously communicated, on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, we learned that Flying Food Group, LLC, in Lawrenceville, Ga., one of our suppliers, recalled ready-to-eat chicken wraps and plates delivered to Starbucks retail stores in Alabama and Georgia due to potential health concerns.

On July 26, 2011, we were informed by Flying Food Group that, at the request of the USDA, they expanded the recall to additional products including two Starbucks products, the Salami and Cheese Bistro Box and the Chicken Lettuce Wraps Bistro Box. On July 27, at the request of the FDA, Flying Food Group further expanded the recall to all products for all of their customers, including Starbucks, with “Enjoy By” dates of July 15 through July 26, 2011.

This recall does not affect any Starbucks stores outside of Alabama and Georgia and there have been no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products.

On Monday, July 25, we instructed our stores in Alabama and Georgia to remove all Flying Food Group products. We did this as a proactive measure to ensure we were protecting the best interest of our customers. All recalled items will be temporarily unavailable in our stores in these two states; however they will be replaced with products from other production facilities.

The FDA and USDA have oversight responsibility for different classifications of food made at the same facility.  Because the two agencies share accountability for food safety, and safety of our products is our primary concern, we had already proactively destroyed all remaining products produced in the Lawrenceville Flying Food Group facility. As a result, all products produced from the impacted facility are no longer available in our stores.

The safety of our customers and partners is of the utmost importance and we take our obligation to provide safe products seriously. We responded immediately, and in cooperation with our supplier, the USDA and FDA, we will continue to work to ensure that all products meet Starbucks high quality assurance standards. We will continue to respond quickly and with great care to ensure that all of our suppliers meet our high standards.”

As a  Sumter personal injury attorney , I’m glad Starbucks issued an update. Listeria is a potentially fatal foodborne disease that is linked to miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. It can also cause high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Staphylococcus can cause serious gastrointestinal illnesses, including nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. Both pathogens are more serious in the elderly and very young.

While we don’t handle this kind of recall we feel that it’s important to educate the community to help protect their health and safety. If you have been injured by a recalled product, you might wish to contact a Sumter  personal injury lawyer who can help.