One lot of Hippie Organics beans from a Miami-area company could contain a fatal flaw
The last time some of us of a certain age heard the word “hippie,” we were wondering what that heady aroma was wafting across South Beach during the Democratic and Republican conventions in 1972.
But a Doral food company Alpine Fresh, has a line of fruits and vegetables marketed as Hippie Organics.
Alas, there’s a problem with one of them that the company is working to resolve.
Which lot is recalled?
Alpine Fresh is voluntarily recalling its 1-pound packages of Hippie Organics French Beans from lot number 313-626, because the beans could be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes. Routine testing by the company found the presence of listeria in a package from this lot, according to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration alert issued on Thursday, April 21.
The lot number 313-626 is printed on the back of the 1-pound, clear plastic package via a small white label.
No illnesses have been reported as of the recall date, the FDA notes, and this is the only affected lot of the Hippie French Beans.
Why is listeria a problem?
Listeria is the third leading cause of death from food poisoning in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An estimated 1,600 people get sick from listeria each year, and about 260 die.
Those most vulnerable to get sick are pregnant women and their newborns, adults 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems. The organism can lead to short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Where were the Hippie beans sold?
The recalled Hippie Organics French Beans were distributed to Whole Foods stores in Florida, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois and Maryland. The packages are also sold at Florida Aldi locations and LIDL stores in Georgia, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
What you should do
Enjoy the beans from other Hippie lots. But if you have the affected 313-626 lot of Hippie Organics French Beans in the 1-pound bag, return it to the store you bought the beans from for a refund.
Still have questions? Call 866-827-3362.
This story was originally published April 22, 2022 at 3:08 PM with the headline "One lot of Hippie Organics beans from a Miami-area company could contain a fatal flaw."
