Avocado products recalled due to bacteria contamination threat

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Avocado pulp products distributed principally to ethnic Mexican restaurants in four Southern California counties may be contaminated by a bacteria that can cause a serious and sometimes fatal food poisoning.

The Food and Drug Administration warned Friday that customers should not to eat and restaurants should not serve certain avocado pulp distributed by G Products or T & G Sales, both San Diego companies.

The FDA said the avocado pulp from G Products was distributed primarily to small Mexican-style fast food restaurants in Orange, Riverside, Los Angeles and San Diego counties.

T & G Sales distributed the bulk avocado pulp, principally to small Mexican-style fast food restaurants in San Diego County, from November 2000 to January. If frozen, these products have a shelf life of three to four months, the FDA said.

The FDA said the avocado products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that can cause serious and sometimes fatal food poisoning in young children, the elderly and people, such as AIDS or cancer patients, who have weakened immune systems.

Listeria infection in pregnant women can cause miscarriages or stillbirths. For healthy people, the infection can cause headache, high fever, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

No illnesses linked to the recalled products have been reported, the FDA said.

G Products is recalling three lots of its product, and T & G Sales was issued a warning letter by the FDA on Feb. 1, the agency announced.

The G Products bulk avocado pulp is packaged in sealed, six-pound clear plastic bags. The label identifies it as "G Products Brand 100 percent Haas Avocado Pulp or Chunky style." The date codes on the label read "DEC 05 2000," "JAN 17 2001," and "JAN 30 2001."

The T & G Sales bulk avocado is packaged in sealed, six-pound clear plastic bags and 25-pound plastic pails.

Listeria bacteria was detected during routine testing by the FDA at the time the products were imported. The importer was told by the FDA to hold the lots and not distribute them. However, the products were distributed without an FDA approval, the agency said.

Restaurants that may have purchased avocado products from G Products or T & G Sales should check their inventories and discontinue use, the FDA said.

Restaurant operators or consumers with questions can call G Products at 619-295-7910 and T & G Sales at 619-232-7910