FDA releases retailer lists for stone fruit linked to deadly Listeria outbreak

Retailer lists are now available for peaches, nectarines and plums linked to a Listeria outbreak that has killed one person and sickened others.

Samples from sick people were collected from Aug. 22, 2018, to Aug. 16, this year. The outbreak is considered ongoing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The sick people are spread across seven states and all of them have required hospitalization.

Whole genome sequencing has allowed public health officials to match patients across several years, all with the outbreak strait of Listeria monocytogenes. The Food and Drug Administration has also found the pathogen on samples of peaches from the producer. 

Anyone who ate recalled peaches, plums or nectarines in recently should monitor themselves for seven weeks after eating the fruit for signs of Listeria infection. Symptoms are listed below.

The FDA continues to work to find out what retailers may have received recalled fruit associated with this outbreak. The agency has released a list of retailers and the states where the recalled fruit has been distributed. The fruit is past its sell-by date, but there is concern that consumers may have frozen some of it for future use.

The recalled fruit was distributed to the following stores and states:

• Food Lion stores in DE, MD, NC, PA, VA, WV (includes 2 lb. bags and 4 lb. boxes of peaches, nectarines, or plums) 
• Wal-Mart & Sam’s Club 
• 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 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 
• H.E. Butt Grocery Co.

In response to this investigation, HMC Farms has voluntarily recalled all of its peaches, plums, and nectarines sold in retail stores from May 1, 2022, through Nov. 15, 2022, and from May 1, 2023, through Nov. 15, 2023. The recalled fruit was sold at retail stores as individual pieces of fruit bearing PLU stickers or in consumer packaging; however, the recalled fruit is no longer available for sale and any previously purchased fruit should be past shelf life. If you previously purchased recalled fresh peaches, plums and nectarines and then froze them, you should throw them away if they are part of the recall or if you cannot tell if they are part of the recall.

Fresh whole peaches, plums, and nectarines currently available for sale at retail are not included in this recall.

About Listeria infections

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections. Anyone who has eaten any of the recalledfruitand developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical treatment and tell their doctors about the possible Listeria exposure.

Also, anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products should monitor themselves for symptoms during the coming weeks because it can take up to 70 days after exposure to Listeria for symptoms of listeriosis to develop. 

Symptoms of Listeria infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Specific laboratory tests are required to diagnose Listeria infections, which can mimic other illnesses. 

Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and people such as cancer patients who have weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of serious illnesses, life-threatening infections, and other complications. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, their infections can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.

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