Frozen fruit is pulled off the shelves over listeria contamination fears

It’s time to check your freezer. More than a dozen frozen fruit products are being pulled from the shelves of some of the largest food retailers nationwide, namely Walmart, Whole Foods, Target, Aldi and Trader Joe’s, over fears of a listeria outbreak.

The recall was announced at the US Food and Drug Administration website on Tuesday. It is linked to pineapple supplied to Sunrise Growers Inc. by a third party supplier. is delivered.

Listeria is a stubborn germ that is difficult to remove from surfaces and equipment.

Symptoms of listeria poisoning include fever, muscle aches, nausea, and diarrhea. It is especially dangerous for the elderly, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems.

Most have only mild symptoms, including a high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. In pregnant women, listeria can cause stillbirth and miscarriage.

More than two dozen frozen fruit products have been recalled over concerns they had been exposed to pineapples that may have been contaminated with listeria

The bags of fruit are sold at Walmart, Whole Foods, Target, Aldi, and Trader Joe’s

There have been no reports of any illness associated with the possible outbreak

Listeria is a stubborn germ that is difficult to remove from surfaces and equipment

To date, no illnesses have been associated with this voluntary recall. As a result, Sunrise Growers has terminated all future business with the third party supplier.

Consumers are urged to check their freezers for the recalled product, not to consume it, and throw the product away or return it to the retailer for a full refund.

Consumers seeking information may email recall@sunrisegrowers.com or call 1.888.490.5591 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time.

All other Sunrise Growers products with different lot codes or expiration dates are not affected by this recall. Affected retail customers have been notified of this recall and instructed to remove all recalled products from store shelves and stock.

According to the FDA, Walmart’s Great Value Mixed Fruit, Great Value Dark Sweet Cherries and Great Value Mango Chunks products were sold in stores in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Washington DC, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming sold between January 19, 2023 and June 13, 2023 have been recalled.

At Whole Foods, 365 Organic Tropical Fruit Medley, 365 Organic Pineapple Chunks, 365 Organic Pineapple Chunks, 365 Organic Whole Strawberries, 365 Organic Slice Strawberries and Bananas, and 365 Organic Blackberries will be distributed to stores in the US from November 1, 2022 through June 21. 2023, have been recalled.

Trader Joe’s Organic Tropical Fruit Blend distributed to select distribution centers or stores Arkansas, Alabama, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Mississippi, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire , New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin and Washington DC, from March 28, 2023 to April 11, 2023, have been recalled.

Target Audience: Good & Gather Organic Cherry and Berry Fruit Blend, Good & Gather Dark Sweet Cherry Seedless, Good & Gather Mango Strawberry Blend, Good & Gather Mixed Fruit Blend, Good & Gather Mango Chunks, Good & Gather Blueberries and Good & Gather Triple Berry Blend distributed in Target stores nationwide from October 14, 2022 to May 22, 2023 has been recalled.

Aldi: Season’s Choice Tropical Blend distributed to select distribution centers or stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont and West Virginia between October 11, 2022 and May 22, 2023.

Associated Wholesale Grocers Best Choice Pitted Red Tart Cherries Unsweetened distributed to select distribution centers or stores in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma from April 5, 2023 to May 4, 2023.

SunOpta is a US-based provider of sustainable, plant-based and fruit-based foods and beverages. Founded nearly 50 years ago, SunOpta produces natural, organic and specialty products sold through retail and food service channels.

What is Listeria?

WHAT IT IS, THE RISKS AND HOW TO AVOID IT

  • Listeria can be found everywhere in the environment
  • It is a type of bacteria that infects humans and other warm-blooded animals through contaminated food
  • It is found in dirty water, irrigation water, soil and fertilizer
  • soft cheeses such as Camembert; cold chicken and cold cuts; raw seafood and cold seafood such as smoked salmon; ice, fresh fruit and bagged vegetables can also carry Listeria
  • Contamination can also arise from contact with animals and vermin and inadequate cleaning of contaminated fruit and unclean hands

WHO IS SENSITIVE … AND THE SYMPTOMS

  • Pregnant women, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems are most at risk
  • Listeria starts with flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea, and sometimes diarrhea
  • The time between consuming the bacteria and showing the signs of illness can often be between 8 and 90 days
  • Some people end up in the hospital with dehydration

HOW TO AVOID IT

  • Do not buy bruised or damaged fruit, wash before eating and refrigerate within two hours of cutting
  • Avoid foods that have passed their expiration date or expiration date
  • Cook food thoroughly
  • Reheat the food until it is steaming hot
  • Refrigerate leftovers immediately and use within 24 hours, or freeze
  • Ready-to-eat foods should never be kept in the refrigerator for too long, as Listeria is one of the few pathogens that can grow in the refrigerator

Source: NSW Food Authority, Food Safety Information Council

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