A grocery store chain that mainly operates within the northeast has recalled a brand of potatoes after a voluntary recall by Northern Star Company.

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company recalled items from sale because of their potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria mainly found in food which is reportedly responsible for 500 deaths in the U.S. a year.

The recalled items all come in 20 oz. bags and are the Simply Potatoes brand. They are: shredded hash browns, homestyle slices and red potato wedges. All the items also have a use-by date on the package of March 29th, 2009 to April 3rd, 2009.

Stop & Shop have not received any reports of illness associated with the consumption of the potato products from Northen Star and removed the items as a precausion.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause flu-like symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. The bacteria is especially dangerous for pregnant women or for those with weakened immune systems.
The food retailer also urged customers who may have bought any of the recalled items to discard them immediately.

People who want to avoid buying contaminated food may want to employ whole food nutrition from a garden or get their nutrients from supplements as an alternative.