Mushroom supplier cleared in BJ's recall
Mushroom supplier cleared in BJ's recall
Two laboratories have confirmed that mushrooms recalled by BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. were not contaminated with E. coli, the retailer said Feb. 23.
On Feb 20, BJ's recalled mushrooms packaged under the "Wellsley Farms" brand that were purchased between Feb. 11 and Feb. 19. The retailer took the precautionary measure when preliminary test results showed the possible presence of trace amounts of E. coli from one lot code of the sliced mushrooms, said the warehouse retailer.
Mushroom supplier John Pia, president of Kaolin Mushroom Farms Inc. in Kennett Square, PA, said that he suspected the mushrooms were not contaminated with the H-7 strain of E. coli, but had to wait until final testing results were available. He said a presumptive positive result was conveyed by the laboratory as a positive result, which spurred the buyer to act.
"That false and premature information engaged the wheels of intervention, ultimately causing BJ's, in an effort to protect its customers, to exercise responsible caution and to recall all mushrooms in their system," he said. "I am not sure how many companies would have done the same thing. They are the ones to receive the credit."
"The company takes food-safety issues seriously and strives to makes decisions that ensure the health and safety of its members," BJ's said in a Feb. 24 statement.
On Feb 20, BJ's recalled mushrooms packaged under the "Wellsley Farms" brand that were purchased between Feb. 11 and Feb. 19. The retailer took the precautionary measure when preliminary test results showed the possible presence of trace amounts of E. coli from one lot code of the sliced mushrooms, said the warehouse retailer.
Mushroom supplier John Pia, president of Kaolin Mushroom Farms Inc. in Kennett Square, PA, said that he suspected the mushrooms were not contaminated with the H-7 strain of E. coli, but had to wait until final testing results were available. He said a presumptive positive result was conveyed by the laboratory as a positive result, which spurred the buyer to act.
"That false and premature information engaged the wheels of intervention, ultimately causing BJ's, in an effort to protect its customers, to exercise responsible caution and to recall all mushrooms in their system," he said. "I am not sure how many companies would have done the same thing. They are the ones to receive the credit."
"The company takes food-safety issues seriously and strives to makes decisions that ensure the health and safety of its members," BJ's said in a Feb. 24 statement.
