Hy-Vee Voluntarily Recalls Frozen Hy-Vee Vegetable Fried Rice and Frozen Hy-Vee Chicken Fried Rice Due to Possible Health Risk

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (May 13, 2016) - Hy-Vee, Inc., based in West Des Moines, Iowa, is voluntarily recalling its frozen Hy-Vee Vegetable Fried Rice and frozen Hy-Vee Chicken Fried Rice products across its eight-state region due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, 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 monocytogenes infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

To date, no illnesses have been reported in connection with this product.

The frozen Hy-Vee Vegetable Fried Rice product being recalled was sold in 1 lb. bags with the UPC number 000007545012530 and with a "use by" date of Nov. 5, 2017, or earlier. The frozen Hy-Vee Chicken Fried Rice product being recalled was sold in 20 oz. bags with the UPC number 0075450125290 and with a "use by" date of Nov. 5, 2017, or earlier. These products were sold at Hy-Vee stores in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin between July 24, 2014, and May 12, 2016. Out of an abundance of caution, Hy-Vee is recalling these two products from all of its stores.

The potential for contamination was discovered after Ajinomoto Windsor, Hy-Vee's supplier, announced they were recalling specific frozen foods due to the potential for Listeria monocytogenes. No other Hy-Vee food items are impacted by this recall.

Customers who purchased this product should discard it or return it to their local Hy-Vee store for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact Hy-Vee Customer Care representatives 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-772-4098.

Hy-Vee, Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating 240 retail stores across eight Midwestern states with sales of $9.3 billion annually. Hy-Vee ranks among the top 25 supermarket chains and the top 50 private companies in the United States. Supermarket News, the authoritative voice of the food industry, has honored the company with a Whole Health Enterprise Award for its leadership in providing services and programs that promote a healthy lifestyle. For more information, visit http://www.hy-vee.com.