Director of the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD), Mr. Marlan Cole, is currently looking into reports of recalled ‘Fiesta’ corn on the local market. Cole said that while the Food and Drug Department has not yet been formally informed by the local distributor of the product that it has been recalled, his organisation will be proactive in dealing with the situation. Del Monte Food products are distributed locally by Toucan Industries, Guyana.
According to Del Monte Foods Inc., the United States based manufacturer of the product, the product has been recalled from 25 US states. Twelve international locations have also been targeted, including Guyana, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, El Salvador, Haiti, Uruguay, Aruba, Panama, Saint Lucia, and Suriname.
In a news release the manufacturer said that it has recalled 62, 242 cases of the Fiesta Corn Seasoned with Red and Green Peppers as a precautionary measure. This action was required after the food wasn’t processed correctly which could lead to deadly contamination, the manufacturer said.
Del Monte noted in its release too, “These deviations were part of the commercial sterilization process and could result in contamination by spoilage organisms or pathogens, which could lead to life-threatening illness if consumed. It is important to note that there have been no reports of illness associated with these products to date.”
The potentially under-processed products are 15.25-ounce (432g) cans with the following UPC number printed on the label: 24000 02770. The item will also have one of the following “Best if Used By” dates stamped on the bottom of the can: August 14, 2021, August 15, 2021, August 16, 2021, Sept 3, 2021, Sept 4, 2021, Sept 5, 2021, Sept 6, 2021, Sept 22, 2021 and Sept 23, 2021.
According to the company, if consumers have any product with the indicated UPC code and “Best if Used By” dates, they should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund or exchange.
Consumers with questions may contact the company by calling the toll free hotline at 1-800-779-7035, Monday-Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Eastern Time or by visiting its www.delmontefoods.com website.
