The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recalled several brands of peaches, plums and nectarines sold in Massachusetts grocery stores because of a Listeria outbreak.
The fruit was sold nationwide in stores from May 1, 2022 through November 15, 2022, and then again from May 1, 2023 through November 2023, according to the FDA. The recalled fruit was sold under multiple brand names in bags or as individuals pieces with different PLU stickers.
The PLU stickers contained the following numbers with the following fruits:
- Yellow peach: 4044 or 4038
- White peach: 4401
- Yellow nectarine: 4036 or 4378
- White nectarine: 3035
- Red plum: 4042
- Black plum: 4040
Peaches, plums or nectarines sold in HMC Farm-branded bags have also been recalled as well as peaches or nectarines sold in Signature Farms-branded bags and labeled with 6359 printed on a white sticker on the bag.
More images of the product photos can be found here. The FDA added that the recalled fruit was sold to other manufacturers who may have frozen or relabeled the recalled fruit for resale under another brand.
The fruit was sold at the following retailers:
- Publix
- Wal-Mart & Sam’s Club
- Albertsons Company banner stores which include ACME, Albertsons, Balducci’s Food Lovers Market, Carrs, Eagle, Haggen, Kings Food Markets, Lucky, Pavilions, Safeway, Shaw’s, Star Market, and Vons in 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, D.C., 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, and VA (includes individual peaches and 2 lb. bags of peaches, nectarines, or plums)
- Sprouts Farmers Market
“The firm has directly notified their customers who received recalled product and this advisory will be updated as more information becomes available,” the FDA said. “Recalled fruit is past expiration and no longer available for sale in retail stores but could have been frozen by consumers. Fresh whole peaches, plums, and nectarines currently available for sale at retail are not included in this recall.”
Customers are urged to not eat, sell or serve the recalled fruit if they still have it in their homes. The FDA also recommends that anyone who previously bought fresh peaches, plums or nectarines thrown them away.
Consumers should also be aware of the potential for cross-contamination, and take extra precautions in cleaning and sanitizing and surfaces, containers or kitchenware that could have come in contact with the recalled fruit. Anyone who may have symptoms of listeriosis should contact their health care provider.
Mild symptoms, which usually develop after two weeks of consumption, include fever, muscle aches, nausea, tiredness, vomiting, and diarrhea. More severe form symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.
According to data collected on Aug. 16, 10 of 11 people who were reported sick were hospitalized. At least one death was reported, according to the FDA. So far, no illnesses or deaths have been reported in Massachusetts.
More information about the recall can be found here.
