Wawona Packing Co. is voluntarily issuing a recall of its peaches, nectarines, plums and pluots that were packed at its Cutler, Calif. warehouses between June 1 and July 12. The fruit recall is nationwide, according to the USFDA. Wawona believes the products may contain Listeria monocytogenes.
Costco, Trader Joe’s, Kroger, and the Walmart Corp., which operates Walmart and Sam’s Club, have posted notices about the contaminated fruit on their websites. Trader Joe’s has encouraged that no one consume fruits with large pits, and that the fruits be returned to the store for a full refund.
But that’s not all. In addition, Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. has recalled several of its baked goods that contain fruit from Wawona, including cakes, pies, tarts, and more. See a full list of products at FDA.gov.
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Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause Listeriosis. Symptoms of Listeriosis include gastrointestinal issues, diarrhea, fever, and muscle aches. Pregnant women, infants, the elderly, and people with a weakened immune system are particularly at risk for serious infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC estimates approximately 1,600 illnesses and 260 deaths are caused by Listeriosis each year in the U.S. Outbreaks have been relatively quiet since 2001. But a significant reemergence of Listeria occurred in 2011 with cantaloupes from a farm in Colorado, resulting in 147 reported cases of sickness and the deaths of nearly three dozen. The farmers responsible for the outbreak were recently sentenced to five years probation, including six months of house arrest.