Tainted Tofu Warning

[Carolyn Tillie]

Potential Danger

(09-24) 16:17 PDT SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO - State health officials warned people today not to eat tofu products from a South San Francisco company because the food may be tainted with a dangerous bacteria.

The company, Quong Hop and Co. , has recalled all varieties of its Soy Deli brand tofu with a date code of Dec. 17, 2007, and three other brands: 16-ounce Quong Hop brand Water Pack Tofu with a date code of Sep. 23, 2007; 12-ounce Soy Deli brand Water Pack Tofu with a date code of Sep. 23, 2007, or Oct. 9, 2007; and 30-ounce Soy Deli brand Nigari Tofu dated either Sep. 23, 2007, or Oct. 17, 2007.

The date code can be found on the front panel of all the products. It is printed in blue ink.

The products were distributed to supermarkets and natural food stores on the West Coast and throughout the Midwest, the state Department of Public Health said. Pregnant women and young children in particular should be careful not to eat them, the agency said.

No illnesses have been reported in association with the products.

Routine testing by health officials in Washington state detected the bacteria listeria monocytogenes in a 12-ounce package of Soy Deli Firm Organic Nigari Tofu, California officials said.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in newborns, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. Listeria infections can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Healthy people may suffer only short-term symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea and diarrhea. Consumers with any of these symptoms are urged to call their physician.

Consumers who purchased the products should either discard them or return them to the store where they were bought. For more information, call Quong Hop and Co. at (650) 553-9900, ext. 22.