Fruit recall affects Costco, Trader Joe's, Walmart stores
Posted: Jul 23, 2014 3:30 PM CST | Updated: Nov 5, 2014 3:13 PM CST
(CNN) -- If you've picked up fruit at Costco, Trader Joe's, Kroger or Walmart stores recently, this may affect you.
Wawona Packing Co. is voluntarily recalling peaches, nectarines, plums and pluots that were packed at its Cutler, California, warehouses between June 1 and July 12. Wawona believes the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
Costco, Trader Joe's, Kroger and Walmart, which also operates Sam's Club stores, have all posted notices about the fruit recall on their websites. So have grocery chains Ralphs and Food 4 Less. The recall is nationwide, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Consumers should look for a sticker on their fruit that says \"SWEET 2 EAT,\" according to the recall warnings.
Internal testing at Wawona revealed the potential listeria contamination, the company says. Listeria was found on on two nectarines and one peach. It is not yet clear how they became contaminated. The facility was shut down and sanitized, and subsequent tests have been negative for the bacteria.
\"We are aware of no illnesses related to the consumption of these products,\" Wawona President Brent Smittcamp said in a statement. \"By taking the precautionary step of recalling product, we will minimize even the slightest risk to public health, and that is our priority.\"
Trader Joe's has urged customers not to eat any of these stone fruits -- meaning fruits with large pits -- and to return them to a nearby store for a full refund.
In addition, Wegmans has recalled several of its baked goods that contain fruit from Wawona Packing Co. This includes cakes, pies, tarts and other pastries. For a full list, see FDA.gov.
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause listeriosis. The most common symptoms of listeriosis are gastrointestinal issues (such as diarrhea), fever and muscle aches. Pregnant women, infants, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk for a more serious infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
If you have already eaten one of the recalled products and begin to feel ill, see your doctor and tell him or her about the recall.
\"Your doctor will make a diagnosis and should report any positive test findings for Listeria monocytogenes to public health authorities, who will then report it to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,\" Wawona states in an FAQ about the recall.
The CDC estimates about 1,600 illnesses and 260 deaths are caused by listeriosis each year in the United States. Overall, outbreaks have been on the decline since 2001, but the largest in U.S. history occurred in 2011. Cantaloupes from a farm in Colorado sickened 147 people and killed nearly three dozen. The farmers responsible recently were sentenced to five years' probation, including six months of in-home detention.
