When you buy food in the grocery store, you do so with the confidence that it has been inspected, and is therefore probably safe for you to eat. Of course, food production and distribution involves many different steps—each with their own potential for error—so there’s always the chance that something will slip through the cracks. Currently, that something is frozen pasta products manufactured by Avanza Pasta, LLC., based in Evanston, Illinois.
On Saturday, the company recalled approximately 2,237 pounds of meat and poultry pasta products, because they were—as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) so delicately put it—“produced without the benefit of federal inspection.” Here’s what to know about the recall, including the specific brands that were impacted and where they were sold.
What is being recalled
The pastas in question are meat and poultry ravioli and tortellini items produced between October 5, 2019 and March 12, 2021. In addition to its own line of products, Avanza Pasta also manufactures frozen pastas for other brands, including Ambrosino’s, Conte De Savoia, Frank’s Deli, Frankie’s Deli, Gene’s, Nature’s Best, Prisco’s Family Market, Tony’s Italian Deli & Subs, and Vesuvio Bakery & Deli, among others.
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According to the FSIS, the recalled pasta items were shipped to restaurants, distributors and retail locations in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Here is the full list of products included in the recall, including their best by/use by dates. And to make your freezer check a little easier, the FSIS has put together this document of the labels of all the pasta products that are part of the recall.
What to do if you have these products
The good news is that so far (or at least as of Saturday, March 20), there are no confirmed reports of anyone getting sick from eating these uninspected pastas. But if you have consumed any of the ravioli and/or tortellini on the list and are concerned about a reaction you’re having to the food, the FSIS encourages you to contact a healthcare provider.
If you find that your freezer is home to any of the pasta products that are part of the recall, don’t eat them. Instead, either throw them away, or return them to the place of purchase. Anyone with questions about the recall can contact Pavlos Loumbroukos, operations manager for Avanza Pasta, LLC., at (847) 584-2891.
