HHS NEWS

P97-17                             Bradford Stone:   301-443-3285
June 12, 1997                      
                                   Consumer Hotline: 800-532-4440


     FDA ISSUES NATIONAL WARNING ON HOMMUS DIPS AND SALADS
             MADE BY CEDAR'S MEDITERRANEAN FOODS, INC.

     The Food and Drug Administration is issuing a nationwide
warning against the purchase and consumption of hommus and other
foods produced by Cedar's Mediterranean Foods, Inc., of Plaistow
Road, NH.  These foods may be contaminated with Listeria
monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes
fatal infections in infants, frail or elderly people, and others
with weakened immune systems.  Although healthy individuals may
suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe
headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea,
listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among
pregnant women.
     Cedar Mediterreanan, Inc is recalling all of its hommus
dips, garden lentil and taboule salads which were distributed to
retail stores across the country.
     Most of the Cedar's Mediterranean, Inc.'s line consists of a
variety of hommus and salad sold in round 8 oz. And 16 oz. clear
plastic packages under the "Cedar's" brand label.  Other hommus
and salad dips products marketed under the "Vita" and "Mr. Hommus"
label where produced by Cedar's and may also have been exposed to
contamination.
     To date, FDA has learned of several unconfirmed reports of
serious illness that have been associated with these products.
FDA is working with state and local authorities to investigate
these cases and to assess the scope of this problem.
     The problem was discovered after laboratory sampling by the
New York State Food and Agriculture Department detected the
presence of Listeria monocytogenes in several varieties of
Cedar's hommus dips.  Follow up inspection of the firm's
production facility indicated a number of sanitation problems.
     As a result, the firm has agreed to stop food production
until these problems can be fully corrected.
     In the meantime, consumers should avoid consuming any Cedar
Mediterranean, Inc., produced hommus or salad dip product they
may have purchased.  Instead, they should return the products to
the place of purchase for a full refund.
     Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-963-3668.
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