UPDATE: Listeriosis bacteria forces massive recall at SanGar plant

The Texas Department of State Health Services ordered SanGar Produce & Processing Co to stop processing food because of Listeria poisoning and issued a recall for all products shipped since January. Contaminated celery sickened at least six people this year, four of whom died.

DSHS inspectors discovered sanitation problems at the SanGar plant and think the Listeria found in the celery might have contaminated other food produced there, the agency said. The inspectors found condensation above a food product area, soil on a preparation table, and hand-washing lapses.

SanGar’s president, Kenneth Sanquist Jr., denied that his company had a sanitation problem and said the problem is with independent health inspections conducted recently, saying that state officials used flawed methods to collect their sample from the company. Sanquist when on to say that someone not wearing proper lab attire and gloves handled the samples.

The recalled SanGar products include fresh cut fruit and vegetables in sealed packages that are bought and used by restaurants, hospitals and schools.

Listeria bacterial infection is especially dangerous for newborn babies, pregnant women and the elderly.

A few of the symptoms for Listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, diarrhea and vomiting. Symptoms can occur anywhere from 3 to 70 days from the initial infection.

State health officials say all of those who were sickened had preexisting health problems.