More details have emerged about peaches, plums and nectarines being recalled in connection with a deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak.
Eleven people are reported to have fallen ill from coast to coast, with one death and another 10 hospitalized. Whole-genome sequencing linked patients using the pathogen’s DNA fingerprint.
Recovered fruit can be identified by searching for the following information: Individual fruit with a PLU sticker on USA-EU labeled fruit contains the following number:
- Yellow peach: 4044 or 4038
- White peach: 4401
- Yellow nectarine: 4036 or 4378
- White nectarine: 3035
- Red plum: 4042
- Black plum: 4040
HMC Farms peaches, plums, or nectarines are sold in HMC Farms-branded bags, and Signature Farms peaches or nectarines are sold in Signature Farms-branded bags, with a label printed with 6359 on a white sticker on the bag. was pasted.
The recalled fruit was sold at the following retailers and may have been sold elsewhere: The recovered fruit was distributed throughout the country and sold in retail stores either in bags or as individual fruits (see discussion above). Additionally, the recalled fruit may have been sold to other manufacturers, who may have frozen and/or relabeled the recalled fruit for resale under different brands.
Please use the following recall link for photos of product packaging and labels.
FDA is aware of the following retailers that received recalled products:
- The following Albertsons Company banner stores: ACME, Albertsons, Balducci’s Food Lovers Market, Carrs, Eagle, Haggen, Kings Food Markets, Lucky, Pavilions, Safeway, Shaw’s, Star Market, and Vons (AK, Southern CA, CO, CT, DE ), ID, ME, MD, MA, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, ND, OR, PA, RI, SD, UT, VT, VA, DC, WA, and WY
- aldi
Stores in AL, AR, DE, GA, IL, IA, KS, KY, MI, MS, MO, NE, NJ, NC, OK, PA, SC, TN, WI, VA (includes individual peaches and 2 lbs. ) Bags of peaches, nectarines, and plums)
The recall applies to fruit sold between May 1st and November 15th of this year. Fruits sold during the same period in 2022 will also be eligible. The recalled fruit is past its best-before date and is no longer sold in retail stores, but may have been frozen by consumers. Fresh whole peaches, plums, and nectarines currently sold in retail stores are not included in this recall.
The FDA advises consumers and businesses not to eat, sell, or serve recalled peaches, plums, or nectarines. Anyone who has previously purchased and frozen fresh peaches, plums, or nectarines should throw them away if they are part of the recall, as freezing does not kill Listeria monocytogenes. If you cannot determine if it is part of a recall, it should be discarded.
Anyone who has received or purchased the recalled peaches, plums, or nectarines should take special care to clean and disinfect surfaces and containers that may have come into contact with the recalled fruit to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. need to pay. This includes baking or canning equipment, cutting boards, knives, countertops, refrigerators, freezers, and storage boxes.
About the outbreak
Federal and state partners continue to investigate the outbreak as additional matched cases are confirmed. Samples from sick people were collected from August 22, 2018 to August 16, 2023. This suggests that peaches, plums, and nectarines are likely sources of this outbreak.
On October 23, 2023, FDA collected a 2-pound sample of bagged peaches at HMC Group Cold Storage, Inc. in Kingsburg, California, and on November 7, 2023, the sample tested positive and was identified as the epidemic strain. A match was reported. Whole genome sequencing.
Cases are spread across the country, including California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, and Ohio.
About listeria infections
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled, but it can still cause serious, even life-threatening infections. Anyone who eats or handles recalled fruit and develops symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection should seek medical treatment and inform the doctor that they may have been exposed to Listeria monocytogenes.
It can also take up to 70 days for symptoms of listeriosis to develop after exposure to Listeria monocytogenes, so people who have eaten the recalled products should be on the lookout for symptoms in the coming weeks.
Symptoms of Listeria infection include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle pain, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Special laboratory tests are required to diagnose listeria infections, which can mimic other illnesses.
Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and immunocompromised cancer patients are especially at increased risk of serious illness, life-threatening infections, and other complications. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild flu-like symptoms, the infection can lead to premature birth, infection of the newborn, and even stillbirth.
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