The nation’s top-selling hummus brand recalled 30,000 cases of the spread Thursday after some of it tested positive for listeria, a potentially deadly bacteria.
Sabra Dipping Co. said the recall affected about 360,000 containers distributed to stores and food-service locations nationwide.
The recall was limited to five products: Classic Hummus flavor in 10-ounce, 30-ounce and 32-ounce containers, as well as the 17-ounce six-pack and the classic and garlic “dual pack.”
Listeria infection can cause miscarriage in pregnant women and is especially dangerous for children, the elderly and people with autoimmune disorders, says the Food and Drug Administration.
Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever and headache.
There are around 260 deaths out of 1,600 listeria-related illnesses each year, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
So far, there have been no reported cases of listeria infection from the hummus.
The bacteria was discovered during a routine, random test by Michigan’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development March 30, said Sabra, based in Virginia.
Distributors in New York City received a recall memo at around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, the day Sabra found out about the contamination from Michigan, Peter Rojek, chief compliance officer at Fairway Supermarket, told The Post.
Fairway staff immediately pulled the 10-ounce containers listed in the recall, he said.
“It didn’t look like we got a lot of it to our area, to Fairway, that is,” he said.
Other local markets like D’Agostino, Associated, Gristedes, Costco, Target and Pathmark also carry the brand, Sabra’s Web site says.
The Post visited a dozen grocery and convenience stores where staff had pulled Sabra’s dips.
But the quick response did little to assuage shoppers’ growing fears of contaminated food.
“It’s scary. Nowadays, there’s so much stuff in everything,” said Abby Nkrunah, 43, of East Flatbush, Brooklyn.
Earlier this week, Blue Bell Creameries recalled its banana-pudding ice cream as part of an ongoing outbreak linked to the company’s contaminated factory in Oklahoma and which has resulted in three deaths.
“You take a chance with everything you put in your mouth,” Nkrunah said, adding that one recall is enough to turn her off a brand.
“I thought Sabra was a really good brand, so I’m kind of surprised and upset that would happen . . . I don’t think I’ll be buying it again.”