My Wholesale Foods Blog

Primal Essence: Stay Healthy With Natural Ginger Super Tea This Holiday Season

Primal Essence has been supplying healthy extracts to the food and beverage industries, and the food service industry, for over fifteen years. Our customer appreciation and demand for these all-natural extracts has been so high that we are now bringing our line ofspecial teas to the consumer market as well, and to wholesale tea venues. Many people are now rediscovering the reviving properties of medicinal teas or experiencing the uplifting qualities of Turmeric Tulsi, Classic Chai and Vanilla Chai. There has been an especially strong interest in our Lemon Ginger and Ginger Zing Organic Super Teas this holiday season.

Our ginger tea extracts are not only great tasting, but they also offer added health benefits, which include aiding digestion, reducing nausea due to motion sickness, treating migraine symptoms, serving as an anti-inflammatory aid, or soothing the symptoms of colds and flu.  You only need a few squirts of our Primal Essence organic teas to receive plenty of beneficial side-effects.  Our ginger extracts are highly concentrated with active substances that will boost your health and immunity levels. If you are thinking about adding ginger to your health routine, here are a few considerations to keep in mind:·

Healthy: Primal Essence Super Teas are made with extracts that naturally preserve the inherent natural antioxidants and phytonutrients.

All Natural: Primal Essence believes that there is no need for artificial colors and flavorings, or any chemical additives. The natural ginger and chai teas, and all the other spice and herb extracts used in Primal Essence Super Teas are mostly Certified Organic or All- Natural, but all are free from any chemical additives.

Extraction Process: Our extracts are made utilizing only the safest extraction technologies, including an all-natural carbon dioxide gas under high pressure which releases the natural oils and resins contained in the botanicals. This process is so pure that our entire line of water-soluble extracts is available as “All Natural” or “Certified Organic.” All of our products are also GMO-Free, gluten-free, and alcohol-free.

At Primal Essence our only goal is to offer natural tea and medicinal tea products that are safe, natural, and chemical-free. Each small bottle contains almost 30-40 flavor-enhancing boosts that can be easily added to hot and cold water, coffee, juices, and other beverages for an instant taste upgrade. We make it easy to enjoy the soothing benefits of all-natural ginger.

About Primal Essence: Primal Essence caters to those looking for the freshest and most wholesome ways of eating. Its line of Organic Super Teas includes Classic Chai, Vanilla Chai, Lemon Ginger, Ginger Zing, Peppermint Splash, and Turmeric Tulsi. Visit the website andFacebook page or call 805-981-2409 for more information on the benefits of natural ginger.

Cleaner Plate Club: More Fruits, Veggies Eaten at School

Empty plates and half-eaten scraps on thousands of cafeteria trays offer the first tangible evidence that new federal standards on school meals are sprouting healthier eating habits, a new study claims.

Based on before-and-after inspections of more than 1,000 trays at four schools in an “urban, low-income” district, students chose 23 percent more fruits and consumed 16 percent more vegetables after the U.S. Department of Agriculture updated its rules in 2012, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health reported Tuesday.

And if a nutritional reset is occurring among American students, baby carrots may be the gateway food, the researchers say.

“We were surprised by the vegetable findings,” said Juliana Cohen, lead author and a research fellow at Harvard. “We thought perhaps it was because students were eating more potato-based products like French fries, which count as a vegetable (in federal standards). We were very surprised to see that potato-based products weren’t being served on study days. Kids loved fresh vegetables, especially baby carrots.”

The federal guidelines are meant to reduce sodium and fat on school menus. Researchers will not name the city in which the schools were monitored, revealing only they are in Massachusetts.

Researchers weighed serving samples then recorded what foods sat atop test trays as students paid for meals. Later, those trays were collected and remaining foods were re-weighed.

At the same time, however, the Government Accountability Office reported Thursday that participation in the National School Lunch Program dropped by 1.2 million students, or 3.7 percent, in 2012-13 when compared to 2010-2011. Analysts cited the veggie-heavy guidelines.

According to the GAO, “state and local officials reported that the changes to lunch content and nutrition requirements … influenced student participation” and that almost all states reported “that obtaining student acceptance of lunches that complied with the new requirements was challenging.”

“Implementing change to a national program is complex and no one should expect every district or school across the country to instantly make it work,” said Dr. Howell Wechsler, CEO of Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a nonprofit that combats childhood obesity. The group works with 22,000 schools that meet or exceed the USDA rules. “There seems to be no reason why all school districts can’t meet federal nutritional guidelines.”

Source: NBCnews.com/health/kids-health/cleaner-plate-club-more-fruits-veggies-eaten-school-n43171

Primal Essence: Top 5 Benefits of Organic Super Tea

After many years of providing extracts in bulk to the food and beverage industries, Primal Essence is introducing a new and innovative way of enjoying beneficial teas derived from organic whole-plant extracts directly to consumers! Just two or three pumps of Primal Essence Super Tea concentrate into hot or cold liquid yields the perfect cup (or glass) of tea, loaded with robust flavor and a full complement of precious phytonutrients and antioxidants. Consumers can now savor vital plant energies bursting with natural flavor while enjoying the top five benefits of Organic Super Tea:

1. Purity: Primal Essence organic teas are made from the finest of natural ingredients. Our food and beverage customers demand only the best, and consumers deserve no less. We go directly to the source to insure that we use only the highest-grade, organic spices available. These herbs and spices luxuriate in their natural environment until they are ready to be picked. Because we believe the health demands of natural tea drinkers are more important than money-centered business demands, we use only the purest, organic ingredients to formulate our products.
2. Taste: Whenever possible we use Supercritical Fluid extracts for our line of special teas, which utilizes all-natural carbon dioxide gas to extract the plants’ natural oils and resins. No chemicals or artificial flavorings are added. Our extracts explode with natural flavors and taste sensations.
3. Health Boost: The Primal Essence process preserves the natural phytochemicals of all the herbs and spices used, including our natural ginger and the soothing properties of our chai tea spices. The natural health qualities of the phytonutrientsand antioxidants already found in plant foods are transferred to our medicinal teasto become natural health boosters for the human body.
4. Potency: Maintaining the original flavor and strength of natural ingredients results in a line of fine teas that is robust and powerful in nature. Just a small amount of our Primal Essence Super Tea concentrate is enough to yield a full cup or glass of aromatic, tasty, soothing medicinal tea.
5. Nature’s Best: Our Organic Super Teas are made from only the finest nature has to offer. One whiff of Primal Essence Classic Chai or Vanilla Chai will make you think you are surrounded by a room full of chai tea spices. The Lemon Ginger or Ginger Zing will immediately remind you of the soothing qualities of natural ginger. ThePeppermint Splash and Turmeric Tulsi, with their vibrant bouquets, invite drinkers to immediately sit back, relax, and feel the stress slowly leaving their bodies.

Try the Primal Essence line of Organic Super Teas and see for yourself the difference these organic Super Teas can make.

About Primal Essence: Primal Essence caters to those looking for the freshest and most wholesome ways of eating. Its line of special teas and medicinal teas includes Classic Chai,Vanilla Chai, Lemon Ginger, Ginger Zing, Peppermint Splash, and Turmeric Tulsi. Visit the website and Facebook page or call 805-981-2409 for more information on adding Organic Super Teas to your daily health regimen.

Things You Didn’t Know About Organic Food

"Organic" isn't a new idea.
Before World War II, all crops were organic. It was only afterward that farms used new, synthetic pesticides and chemicals to minimize weed, insects, and rodent damage. What's not new? Many worry about the long-term effects of ingesting chemical residues from "conventional" produce (i.e., sprayed crops), as well as the impact these treatments have had on our planet and our resources.

Organic isn't just for the rich.
Many are making efforts to help everyone access organic food, from giant companies like Walmart to local non-profits like Growing Power, a Milwaukee community garden that helps thousands of area residents buy affordable, sustainable food.

Pregnant women and kids: Pay attention!
These groups may benefit most from organics. Studies show that fetuses and young children might be harmed by exposure to even low levels of pesticides.

Everyone can eat an organic diet.
One popular criticism is that farmers can't grow enough to supply organic food for all. It's true that if everyone needed to eat organic meat in quantity, it would be difficult for today's agribusiness to produce enough organic feed to nourish the livestock. That said, if people ate less meat, and we had a large-scale shift in thinking, it would be possible for our lands to be developed to yield organic produce as they did before World War II. Also, we'd probably go farther in the fight against hunger.

Organic could still come from China.
To get to your plate, most food travels over 1,000 miles—even organic food. Check the labels or ask the market manager to figure out the origin of your organic produce, and try to buy local. In addition to helping the environment, shopping local keeps dollars in your community. Note: Even if a local, small farm isn't certified organic, many of them use organic methods.

Don’t picture happy animals roaming on idyllic farms just because it’s organic meat.
The USDA requires that, “organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals … given no antibiotics or growth hormones.” But this could just mean the animals ate organic corn instead of conventional corn. Organic meat is probably worth the expense to reduce your exposure to antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Skip labels that call seafood organic.
When it comes to fish and ocean life, there are no federal regulations that makes something "sustainable" or "organic." So if you see seafood marked as such, be wary: It's not required on a state or federal basis to meet any specific standards, it hasn't been tested for toxicity, and it's probably more expensive.

You can save your milk money.
According to a recent article in Pediatrics, researchers found that milk from cows given hormones seems safe for kids and concluded there is no significant difference in the estrogen concentration of organic versus conventional milk. Their surprising recommendation: Drink skim milk (organic or not), because higher-fat milks contain more estrogen, which has been linked to cancer and other hormonal issues.

Organic is not about superfoods.
A recent Stanford meta-analysis claimed that "eating organic doesn't give you any health benefits," which caused a lot of commentary on whether organic was better for you. However, researchers honed in on nutrient makeup without examining pesticide residue and antibiotic resistance. They also left out the bigger picture: Organic farming systems replenish soil and protect important resources like water, compared to conventional farming which can contaminate soil and water with chemicals and nitrogen.

You can’t rinse off pesticides from conventional produce.
Washing conventional produce doesn’t remove all its pesticides and transform it into organic. Rinsing might wash some pesticides from the food’s surface but not from within the flesh. (Washing does remove food-borne-illness pathogens, so don’t skip it.)

Processed food that's organic is still processed food.
If a food comes out of a box and is labeled organic, it means it's healthier only in that it was minimally produced without artificial ingredients, preservatives, or irradiation. And you can feel good that workers, animals, and the environment were all treated better in the process. However, it might not be nutritionally better for you!

"Conventional" farming isn't sustainable.
Chemical fertilizers are only so successful in controlling pests before they develop tolerances. Then, new stronger formulas need to be developed, which eventually taps out our soils. The short-term gains of conventional farming (ie, cheaper prices) are actually reducing our chances to return to organic methods.

Organic seeds are in danger.
Four of the world’s largest agrochemical companies own a whopping 50% of the world’s farmed seeds—and they aren't breeding them for organic conditions. Just as we need to think about the soils, we also need to think about the seeds; conserving and developing crop genetic diversity is essential.

Less than 1% of all American crops are organic.
Based on the most recent data collected from Organic-World.Net, only .6% of American crops are organic and without genetic modification.

Organic crops are less likely to be buggy.
Because the soil is nourished by natural methods, the crops are better equipped to resist disease and insects. When pests get out of hand, organic farmers rely on natural options like insect predators, traps, and mating disruption to get rid of them and restore balance to their land.

"Organic" doesn't mean 100% organic.
According to the USDA, unless it says "100% organic," any item labeled "organic" only needs 95% of its ingredients to have been organically grown. Also, some ingredients are exempt from the definition because they are "too difficult to source organically," including foods using sausage castings, some coloring, celery powder, and fish oils.

Calling your food "natural" is easier than getting an "organic" seal of approval.
Organic foods undergo intense USDA regulations: No synthetic fertilizers, synthetic growth and breeding hormones, antibiotics, and GMOs; any pesticides used must be natural. It takes three years, and thousands of dollars in fees, for farms to go organic. Once certified, farmers get regular inspections, keep detailed logs and must stay prepared for surprise visits to test their soil and water. “Natural” foods don't have such rigorous scrutiny.

Organic crops aren't just for food.
Everything from t-shirts to napkins and cosmetic puffs can be purchased as certified organic products that are made from organic fiber. Organic flowers and organic furniture are also rising in popularity, too.

Organic or not, don’t skip your fruits and veggies.
If you pick conventional produce, the Environmental Working Group came up with the "Clean 15" (low-pesticide residue on conventional crops) and the “Dirty Dozen" (highest pesticide residue, might make more sense to buy organic). Remember that eating fruits and vegetables, however they're grown, is far better than skipping them completely.Though these lists were intended to help inform consumers about the level of pesticide residues on non-organic crops, some people mistakenly believe that non-organic produce should be avoided. Not so: Any plant-rich diet has proven health benefits, so crunch on!


Source: iReport.CNN.com/docs/DOC-985937 

Primal Essence - Fine Teas and Medicinal Teas Company Unveils New Web Site

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Ventura, CA: As part of its drive to make ordering organic teas and Chai tea spices more accessible for natural product and health enthusiasts, Primal Essence is unveiling its newly-redesigned Google Friendly WordPress website. Since Primal Essence offers fine teas and medicinal teas that help make life more relaxing and stress-free, the company wanted a website that is easy to navigate and non-stressful for visitors.

Guests are welcomed with an appealing display of the company’s product line, along with an explanation of the origin of their Organic Super Teas. While some guests may wish to begin shopping online immediately, others have the option of reading about the company’s unique method of extraction. Primal Essence has found a way to render 90% of its oils and healing concentrated properties to create the world’s strongest extracts. Just a few splashes of these water-soluble extracts into a hot or cold beverage captures the exotic flavors of faraway places and delivers the reviving properties of ancient medicinal teas.

Other features of the new site include answers to the most commonly asked questions about phytonutrients and the benefits of natural tea, and news about the latest additions to the company’s line of fine teas. The site also makes it easy to sign up to receive coupons, discounts, news updates, and special insights. Benefits of Organic Super Teas include a bold, invigorating flavor that preserves the healthy attributes of whole-plant extracts,which are loaded with phytonutrients and antioxidants. No artificial colors, preservatives, caffeine, sugar, gluten or alcohol have been added.

“Our products deliver delicious herbal tea in three seconds, so we know our customers are accustomed to receiving outstanding results quickly from us. We didn’t want our website to be any different,” said company spokesperson, Susan Smyth. “Primal Essence is committed to helping customers have healthier, happier and calmer lives in every way possible.”

Primal Essence products are manufactured from high grade, non-irradiated herbs and spices utilizing the safest and most environmentally-friendly extraction technologies available. Carbondioxide gas under high pressureis used during the extraction process, which results in pure, chemical-free, alcohol-free extracts. This method preserves the full flavor of the ingredients in a much more potent form than simple ground herbs and spices.

Primal Essence is known for supplying superior quality wholesale teas and liquid herb extracts to the food service industry, including restaurants, hotels, hospitals and other institutions. Clients and customers were so pleased with their richness of flavor that they demanded to have direct access to the company’s products for home use. The redesigned website is the first step in the company’s expansion into the consumer side of the business.

About Primal Essence: Primal Essence caters to those looking for the freshest and most wholesome ways of eating. Its line of Organic Super Teas includes Classic Chai, Vanilla Chai, Lemon Ginger, Ginger Zing, Peppermint Splash, and Turmeric Tulsi.  Visit the website and Facebook page or call 805-981-2409 for more information.

5 ways to drop your soda habit

Despite recent heightened awareness about its many negative effects on our health, whether it's to get through the mid-afternoon slump or paired with lunch or dinner as our beverage of choice, many of us still reach for soda daily for a jolt of caffeine and sugary satisfaction.

Perhaps because of a person's overall unhealthy food and beverage choices, studies have shown that even minimal soda consumption may lead to weight gain. Unfortunately, that weight gain can lead to the development of Type 2 diabetes and a heightened chance of stroke.

Increased soda consumption also has been linked to kidney stones and tooth decay. Unfortunately, caffeine can be highly addictive and habit-forming, and many Americans are wary of cutting it out cold turkey.

I used to drink 10 cans of soda a day

So how does one ditch a dependence on soda? Here are five tips for kicking your soda habit for good:

Hydrate with H2O. The body needs water to function optimally, but its benefits extend beyond being a necessity for everyday, basic health.
Say goodbye to candy, donuts in schools
Dying for a soda?
Judge puts a cap on NYC soda ban
Diet drinks = drunker faster

Reach for a glass of water when the urge for soda strikes. While both beverages help us to feel temporarily full, water won't leave you feeling deflated like the letdown after a caffeine high. If it's carbonation you crave, try seltzer or sparkling water when you're thirsty.

Water doesn't have to be plain, either -- try adding produce like lemon, lime, or watermelon for a refreshing and satisfying twist.

Seek support. Soda is often consumed in large amounts in social situations, whether at the movies or dining in groups. Enlisting friends, significant others, and relatives to help you rid yourself of your habit will help keep you accountable and on track.

As reducing your caffeine intake can often lead to withdrawal symptoms, including mood swings, it's important to communicate effectively with loved ones. Keeping lines of communication open can help boost your mood and release negative thoughts and feelings.

Choose a healthier "caffeinated" beverage. Antioxidant-rich green tea is an excellent alternative to soda and has been shown to offer a number of overall health benefits. Studies have shown green tea may protect skin from sun damage, stabilize blood sugar levels and decrease the risk for certain types of cancer.

Eatocracy: How I kicked my Coke habit

The taste of green tea can be easily enhanced by drinking it over ice, or adding fresh-squeezed lemon. Consuming green tea can also aid in weaning you from your perceived need for caffeine -- the beverage contains a small amount (significantly less than soda) of naturally occurring caffeine.

Stay occupied. As with many of the things we do with repetition, they often become habits due to boredom.

If you find yourself mindlessly heading for the fridge, grab a quick, low-calorie snack instead. Sweet-tasting flavored low-fat Greek yogurt, for instance, may satisfy your need for a quick pick-me-up. Making a brief phone call to a friend or browsing your favorite website may also fill the need to busy yourself.

Isolate yourself from the source of your addiction. You're much more likely to cave to the temptation of popping the tab on a cold can of soda if one is within easy reach.

It's a simple solution, but ridding your environment of soda altogether can prove vital in your battle for a soda-free diet. If you do the grocery shopping in your home, don't buy it to begin with. If your workplace is your pitfall, advocate for healthier options in your office's vending machine or take a new walking route to avoid the lure of soda calling your name.

Source: Edition.CNN.com/2013/06/27/health/soda-5-ways

Tell Your Sweetheart You Care with Organic Super Teas

 

Dear Friends,

After a hard day at work, or a sleepless night taking care of the baby, maybe all your sweetheart needs for Valentine’s Day is five minutes to sit down and relax with a soothing cup of tea! Show how much you care by brewing up a relaxing Organic Super Tea fromPrimal Essence.

For over two decades, Primal Essence has been supplying wholesale teas and liquid herb extracts to some of the most well known brands in the food service industry.  Recently, Primal Essence developed a complete line of retail products derived from organic whole-plant extracts for home use. Just heat up a steaming mug of hot water, spray two or three pumps of our Super Tea concentrate into it, and serve your Valentine a perfect tea that is bursting with flavor.

Tea lovers can choose from six amazing flavors;Classic Chai, Vanilla Chai, Lemon Ginger, Ginger Zing,Peppermint Splash, or Turmeric Tulsi. Each tea provides a relaxing and warming sensation which melts your stress and tension away.

Not all tea is created equal.  Give your Valentine relaxing refreshment that’s healthy, too. Chai can be a healthy substitute for coffee, and ginger is a helpful anti-inflammatory agent. Peppermint is considered to be one of the best-tasting home remedies for indigestion, while Tulsi is one of the herbal foundations of Ayurvedic healing.

Primal Essence Organic Super Teas are made from only the finest ingredients nature has to offer. Take a look at the ingredients list on any of our organic teas and all you will see is purified water and pure organic extracts listed. No artificial colors, preservatives, caffeine, sugar, gluten or alcohol have been added. Each has been produced with a full complement of precious phytonutrients and antioxidants.

Don’t worry if your Valentine’s budget is a little tight this year either. Because Primal Essence’s Organic Super Teas are so highly-concentrated, each bottle can provide 30-40 cups of delicious tea for only $8.95 to $10.95. Compare that to the cost of a few tea bags. Perfect for the one you love, the Primal Essence line of fine teas and medicinal teasmakes life more fun.

If you’re planning on cooking a meal for your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day, our infused coconut oils help create meals that sing with exceptional flavor. Every dish is exciting, authentic, perfectly seasoned, and perfectly delicious. Now you can introduce the goodness of whole-food extracts into your cooking while expertly seasoning an entire curry or a favorite dish. It’s as easy as dipping a spoon into a jar—yet the dramatic complexity of the flavors will astound you.

Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be about all the craziness and hype you see on TV. It should be about spending time together and paying attention to the one you love. Do something special that shows how much you really care. Turn down the lights, play some soft romantic music, and enjoy an evening together with Organic Super Tea from Primal Essence, and maybe add in a foot massage as well!

Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at Primal Essence!

About Primal Essence: Primal Essence caters to those looking for the freshest and most wholesome ways of eating. Its line of Organic Super Teas includesClassic Chai, Vanilla Chai, Lemon Ginger, Ginger Zing, Peppermint Splash, and Turmeric Tulsi. Visit the website and Facebook page or call 805-981-2409 for more information.

Spice Extracts – Questions and Considerations

 

The Primal Essence line of fine teas is manufactured using only the highest grade, Certified Organic herb and spice extracts available. Our reputation for providing products in their most natural form was built by catering to the demanding needs of the food, beverage, and food service industries . We now bring these same outstanding quality extracts to the organic teas we offer to the consumer market, and the wholesale teas industry.

On the surface it may seem like we are similar to other natural tea companies because all of our Organic Super Teas start with pure whole ingredients like natural ginger andchai tea spices. What consumers need to take into consideration when thinking about which medicinal tea product to buy, is the convenience, advantage and great benefit they get by using extracts vs dried herbs and spices:

The Original Ingredients – Consider the Source: Nature does an incredible job of producing plant forms laden with beneficial properties that are compromised by the use of harmful pesticides. Primal Essence uses only the highest grade, certified organic spices available to develop its unique line of teas.

The Extraction Process: The herb and spices have to be extracted to take them from their natural dry form to liquid extracts. This extraction process captures and preserves the natural phytonutrients and antioxidants found in these plant foods. Primal Essence has chosen to utilize a process which relies on all-natural carbon dioxide gas to release the plant’s natural oils and resins, thereby maintaining the original health benefits.

Preservation: In order to promote a longer shelf life, many companies add chemicals and preservatives which further weaken the extract’s beneficial properties. Primal Essence does not believe in using any artificial preservatives, flavorings, colors, or chemical additives. Our clean extraction technologies and manufacturing processes result in pure, chemical-free, alcohol-free extracts that capture and preserve the natural full flavor, aroma, and naturally inherent beneficial properties.

A Little Can Go a Long Way: A small amount of spice extract will go a long way towards adding a natural aroma and delicious taste, even more than that which might be found in ground dry spices. Most customers find that adding just a few squirts of one of Primal Essence’s organic teas into water or a favorite hot or cold beverage releases a burst of exotic flavors that soothe the senses.

Primal Essence uses these powerful spice extracts as the basis for our entire line ofOrganic Super Teas. Try one and see the difference our peppermint, ginger, turmeric, chai and vanilla spice extracts can make in your tea, juice, coffee and more.

About Primal Essence: Primal Essence caters to those looking for the freshest and most wholesome ways of eating. Its line of special teas and medicinal teas includes Classic Chai, Vanilla Chai, Lemon Ginger, Ginger Zing, Peppermint Splash, and Turmeric Tulsi. Visit the website and Facebook page or call 805-981-2409 for more information on spice extracts.

CNN: California farm recalls lettuce over contamination concerns

A California lettuce grower has recalled 2,498 cartons of chopped or
shredded romaine lettuce shipped to wholesale food service
distributors in 19 states and Canada over concerns the produce may be
contaminated with the same bacteria that caused 13 deaths in an
outbreak traced to tainted cantaloupes.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and True Leaf Farms initially
reported the recall of 90 cartons of chopped and shredded romaine
lettuce on Thursday, saying a random sample detected listeria
monocytogenes in one bag pulled from a lot shopped on September 12 and
September 13. Later Thursday, True Leaf issued a statement saying the
FDA asked the company to expand the recall.

No illnesses have been reported, the FDA said.

The affected lettuce was available for direct purchase at Cash & Carry
Smart Foodservice warehouses in Oregon, Washington and Idaho, It also
shipped to food service distributors in Alaska, Alabama, Arizona,
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky,
Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Vermont. It also was sent to a distributor
in Alberta and British Columbia.

The recalled lettuce carries a use by date of "9/29/11" and the bag
and box code B256-46438-8. The FDA said anyone who has the lettuce
should destroy it or contact the company to come pick it up.

Listeria can cause fever, muscle aches and gastrointestinal problems.
It usually causes only mild illness for healthy people, but it can be
extremely dangerous for older adults, people with weakened immune
systems, newborns and pregnant women, in whom listeriosis can cause
miscarriages and stillbirths, according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.

The listeria bacteria recently was blamed in a multi-state outbreak
associated with tainted cantaloupes. At last count, 13 people had died
and 72 had been made ill in 18 states after consuming cantaloupes
grown by a Colorado farm.