Anybody that has purchased fruit recently from Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, Trader Joe’s, BJ’s or Costco may want to review their purchase and possibly discard their produce. Wawona Packing, a packaging company headquartered in California, has issued a voluntary recall on both organic and conventional varieties of:
- White peaches and nectarines
- Yellow peaches and nectarines
- Black plums
- Pluots (a hybrid of plums and apricots)
The fruit recall was issued due to possible Listeria contamination during packaging that occurred between June 1 and July 12. Regional supermarket chain Wegmans also recalled pies that may have been made with the contaminated fruit.
No Illnesses Reported Yet
The fruit recall is precautionary. While there have not been any illnesses reported as of now, it is recommended that the fruit be thrown away immediately. Affected consumers may also be able to contact their grocery store to see if the fruit could be returned for a refund. It is important to note that the brands listed on the packaging make no difference. After Wawona ships the fruit to stores, the grocers then resell the produce using their own brand names. This also causes confusion when trying to track down where exactly the fruit ended up, causing the recall to be nationwide even though it might only affect some isolated areas. Basically, if you bought these fruits from any of these stores, just get rid of them to be safe.
What is Listeria?
Listeria monocytogenesis is a foodborne pathogen that can cause a condition known as Listeriosis. Listeriosis does not often present a serious risk to healthy people, but it can cause headache, fever, nausea, stiffness, diarrhea and abdominal pain. At the same time, Listeriosis can be very dangerous for young children, the elderly and anyone with a weakened immune system. The condition also presents a serious risk to pregnant women, as it can cause stillbirths and miscarriages.
Fruit Recall 2014: The Bottom Line
Again, if you’ve purchased any of this produce from the aforementioned grocers, throw it out or seek a refund. The FDA has provided a detailed list of photographs showing the packaging that the fruit came in. Wawona Packing can also be contacted at 1-888-232-9912 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday or through their website. Pregnant women, young children or elderly people should see a doctor immediately if infection is suspected. Antibiotics could be lifesaving in this situation.
