How To Tell If Your Trader Joe's Hummus Has Been Recalled For Listeria Concerns

It's hasn't been a great season for hummus — or listeria-contaminated factories, for that matter. First, Sabra had to pull tubs and toss them, and now Trader Joe's is doing the same. Check your fridge now: Here's how to tell if your Trader Joe's hummus has been recalled. Trader Joe's did not have any additional comment to provide Romper.

The company's website has assured: "All potentially affected products have been removed from store shelves and destroyed." The Trader Joe's hummus recall only pertains to two types of hummus at present, which are the store brand's Mediterranean Hummus as well as their White Bean & Basil Hummus. The affected tubs have a use-by date that extends from the present up to (and including) Dec. 16, 2016. They will also be marked with a "C" right next to the use-by date — this is the tub's plant identification code. If your Trader Joe's hummus has a "J" printed rather than a "C," it was produced at a different plant entirely, and should be safe.

The location of sale is also vital; only certain states sold the potentially contaminated hummus. For the Mediterranean variety, these states are included:

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, North Carolina, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.

For White Bean & Basil, these states are included:

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

The FDA's report explains how the discovery of possible listeria contamination was made, saying that "testing by the company revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in product manufactured on the same equipment." Listeria can be fatal, so it's important to take these warnings to heart. Listeria symptoms include "fever and muscle aches, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms," notes the CDC. Though the symptoms for pregnant women are less pronounced, and can be mistaken for general aches and pains, they should be taken especially seriously, as "infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn."

In November, Sabra recalled hummus products for the same reason — potential listeria contamination. To be safe rather than sorry, go ahead and toss your hummus. If you're upset that you're not getting what you paid for, don't worry: Trader Joe's is offering hummus refunds. Just bring the tub back from where you purchased it and you'll be reimbursed.