Hummus Is Recalled Because of Listeria Fears

Trisha Calvo
Updated

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Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.

Eleven brands of 74 various types of hummus have been recalled because of concerns about Listeria monocytogenes, the Food and Drug Administration announced.

All of the hummus was produced by Pita Pal Foods and shipped to stores nationwide. The FDA found listeria in the manufacturing plant during an inspection, not in the hummus itself. No illnesses have been reported. 

The brands include Harris Teeter, Lantana, and Pita Pal. (See the full list below.) Most of the products recalled have “best by" dates between July 21, 2019 and Aug. 30, 2019, but a few have them from November or December 2019.

If you purchased a product involved in the recall, don’t eat it. Instead, return it to the store for a refund. 

Symptoms of Listeria Infection

Listeria monocytogenes causes about 1,600 cases of listeriosis every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and about 260 deaths. The infection is particularly dangerous for adults over 65, anyone with a weakened immune system, young children and newborns, and pregnant women, because the infection increases risk for miscarriage or stillbirth.

“People in these groups have to be especially careful,” says James E. Rogers, Ph.D., director of food safety and testing at Consumer Reports. 

Infections caused by listeria can cause a variety of symptoms including fever and diarrhea, similar to other foodborne illnesses.

If the bacteria spreads beyond the gut, those who aren't pregnant may experience headaches, a stiff neck, confusion, a loss of balance, convulsions, fever, and muscle aches. Pregnant women usually experience only flu-like symptoms, but these infections may lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn. 

Symptoms of an invasive infection that has spread beyond the gut typically appear one to four weeks after eating contaminated food, according to the CDC, but some people have reported symptoms as soon as the same day as exposure and as late as 70 days after exposure.

The Details

Products recalled: Various brands of hummus produced by Pita Pal Foods. The list is below. For UPC codes, package sizes, and expiration dates, go to the FDA’s website.

• Bucee's Garlic Hummus with Pretzels
• Bucee's Texas Spicy Hummus with Pretzels
• Fresh Thyme Original Hummus with Pretzels
• Harris Teeter Fresh Foods Market Garlic Hummus
• Harris Teeter Fresh Foods Market Olive Hummus
• Harris Teeter Fresh Foods Market Pine Nut Hummus
• Harris Teeter Fresh Foods Market Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
• Harris Teeter Fresh Foods Market Spicy Hummus
• Harris Teeter Fresh Foods Market Traditional Hummus
• Hummus Hummus Original Hummus
• Hummus Hummus Roasted Garlic Hummus
• Hummus Hummus Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
• Lantana Beet Hummus
• Lantana Black Bean Hummus
• Lantana Buffalo Hummus
• Lantana Carrot Sriracha Hummus
• Lantana Cauliflower Hummus
• Lantana Edamame Hummus
• Lantana Extra Spicy 3 Pepper Hummus
• Lantana Roasted Garlic Hummus
• Lantana White Bean Hummus - Singles
• Lantana White Bean Hummus
• Lantana Carrot Hummus - Singles
• Lantana Edamame Hummus - Singles
• Lantana Hatch Chile Hummus
• Lantana Spicy Yellow Lentil Hummus
• Lidl Hummus Quartet
• Pita Pal Hummus Variety Pack
• Pita Pal Mezza Sundried Tomato Hummus
• Pita Pal Olive Hummus
• Pita Pal Organic Basil Sun Dried Tomato Hummus
• Pita Pal Organic Hummus Variety Pack
• Pita Pal Organic Roasted Garlic Hummus
• Pita Pal Organic Spicy Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
• Pita Pal Original Hummus
• Pita Pal Roasted Garlic Hummus
• Pita Pal Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
• Pita Pal Spicy Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
• Pita Pal Basil Sundried Tomato Hummus
• Pita Pal Cilantro Jalapeno Hummus
• Pita Pal Edamame Dip with Sesame Sticks
• Pita Pal Garden Vegetable Hummus
• Pita Pal Mezza 4 Bean Hummus
• Pita Pal Organic Cilantro Jalapeno Hummus
• Pita Pal Organic Original Hummus
• Pita Pal Organic Roasted Garlic Hummus
• Pita Pal Organic Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
• Pita Pal Original Hummus Singles
• Pita Pal Original Hummus To Go Pack
• Pita Pal Original Hummus with Pretzels
• Pita Pal Roasted Red Pepper Hummus with Pretzels
• Pita Pal Sesame Pine Nut Hummus|
• Pita Pal Texas Spicy Hummus
• Reasor's Cilantro Jalapeno Hummus
• Reasor's Hummus Variety Pack
• Reasor's Original Hummus
• Reasor's Original Hummus with Pretzels
• Reasor's Pine Nut & Sesame Hummus
• Reasor's Roasted Garlic Hummus
• Reasor's Roasted Garlic Hummus with Pretzels
• Reasor's Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
• Reasor's Spiced-Up Hummus
• Reasor's Sun-Dried Tomato Basil Hummus
• Roundy's Garlic Hummus
• Roundy's Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
• Roundy's Traditional Hummus
• Schnucks Cilantro Jalapeno Hummus
• Schnucks Garden Vegetable Hummus
• Schnucks Roasted Garlic Hummus
• Schnucks Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
• Schnucks Traditional Hummus
• 7-Select Chipotle Garlic Hummus with Pretzels
• 7-Select Classic Hummus with Pretzels
• 7-Select Roasted Red Pepper Hummus with Pretzels

The problem: The products were produced at a plant where Listeria monocytogenes was found.

The fix: Return the product to the store where you purchased it for a refund.

How to contact the manufacturer: Call Pita Pal at 832-803-9295 or email the company at products@pitapal.com.



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