Hummus Recalled From Walmart For Listeria Concerns

Our love affair with pine nuts is taking a major hit — multiple brands of hummus recalled their products due to potential contamination in the pine nuts involved.

"An ingredient supplier notified us that their ingredient has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes," House of Thaller, one of the companies whose products were affected, relayed to consumers via an announcement from the Food and Drug Administration. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 260 people die from ingesting these bacteria each year. This contamination is reason to be alarmed — however, keep in mind that listeria can be effectively treated with antibiotics.

The FDA released a public service announcement on June 19 to warn consumers of the potential danger.

Target, Kroger, Walmart, and Fred Meyer are among the distributors to which the affected products were sent — the contaminated products were delivered continuously April through June, for nearly two months. No illnesses related to these products have been reported so far, and the manufacturers hope the recall can prevent any significant outbreak of food poisoning.

If you've purchased pine nut hummus from any of the retailers involved, it is advised that you discard the products immediately. If you have already consumed the products, do not panic — simply keep an eye out for warning signs of illness from contamination.

Symptoms include fever, diarrhea, and fatigue. The CDC reports that "people with invasive listeriosis usually report symptoms starting one to four weeks after eating food contaminated."

While the FDA released a full and more comprehensive list of the products involved, the key items to watch out for include Fresh Foods Market's Artisan Hummus – Pine Nuts, Lantana brand White Bean Hummus with Pine Nut & Herb Topping, and Marketside Classic Hummus with Pine Nuts.

Essentially, to play it safe, you should make sure to carefully check any product containing pine nuts for now, especially when it comes to your favorite vegetable dip.

In the meantime, sustain your hummus cravings with these DIY versions.