Frozen Fruit Sold at Target Trader Joe's and Walmart Recalled Due to Listeria Risk

Frozen fruit is being voluntarily recalled due to risk of bacterial contamination. Getty Images

• Frozen fruit including items sold in Target, Walmart and Trader Joe’s is being voluntarily recalled over concerns it could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
• Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause a serious infection known as listeriosis. 
• Each year, about 1,600 people in the United States get listeriosis, with about 260 people dying as a result of their infection.

Frozen fruit products sold at popular stores including Walmart, Whole Food and Trader Joe’s is being voluntarily recalled due to concerns it could contain bacteria.

Sunrise Growers Inc., a subsidiary of SunOpta Inc., issued a voluntary recall this week of specific frozen fruit products due to the potential for these products to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The products are linked to pineapple provided by a third-party supplier, the company said in a recall notice posted June 21 on the Food and Drug Administration website.

No illnesses have been associated with this recall, the company said.

“Listeria monocytogenes is dangerous, but [in this case] contamination has only been suspected and not confirmed,” said Michael Tunick, PhD, an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Food and Hospitality Management at Drexel University.

“If consumers discard the affected products they have no reason to be alarmed,” he told Healthline.

What is Listeria?

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause a serious infection known as listeriosis. 

Pregnant women and their newborns, people aged 65 or older, and those with weakened immune systems are more likely to get severely sick or die due to this infection.

Each year, about 1,600 people in the United States get listeriosis, with about 260 people dying as a result of their infection.

Healthy people may have only short-term symptoms such as:

• fever
• muscle aches
• fatigue
• headache
• stiffness
• nausea
• abdominal pain
• diarrhea
• vomiting

These symptoms can also occur in people with a severe infection, along with more serious symptoms such as:

• confusion
• loss of balance
• seizures

Intestinal symptoms usually start within 24 hours of eating food contaminated with Listeria, and last for 1-3 days. Other symptoms usually start within 2 weeks after eating contaminated food.

Pregnant people usually have mild symptoms, but infection can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or a life-threatening infection of the newborn.

If you have concerns about any symptoms, contact a physician.

Which products are recalled?

Full details of the recall — including product lot numbers, “best by” dates, and states where products were sold — can be found on the FDA website.

Frozen food products affected by the recall were distributed via the following retailers:

• Walmart: Great Value Mixed Fruit, Great Value Dark Sweet Cherries, and Great Value Mango Chunks, sold from January 19, 2023 to June 13, 2023
• Whole Foods: 365 Organic Tropical Fruit Medley, 365 Organic Pineapple Chunks, 365 Pineapple Chunks, 365 Organic Whole Strawberries, 365 Organic Slice Strawberries and Bananas, and 365 Organic Blackberries distributed from November 1, 2022 to June 21, 2023
• Trader Joe’s: Trader Joe’s Organic Tropical Fruit Blend distributed from March 28, 2023 to April 11, 2023
• Target: Good & Gather Organic Cherries and Berries Fruit Blend, Good & Gather Dark Sweet Whole Pitted Cherries, Good & Gather Mango Strawberry Blend, Good & Gather Mixed Fruit Blend, Good & Gather Mango Chunks, Good & Gather Blueberries, and Good & Gather Triple Berry Blend distributed from October 14, 2022 to May 22, 2023
• Aldi: Season’s Choice Tropical Blend distributed from October 11, 2022 to May 22, 2023
• AWG (Associated Wholesale Grocers): Best Choice Pitted Red Tart Cherries Unsweetened distributed from April 5, 2023 to May 4, 2023

What should consumers do?

Consumers should “check their freezers for the recalled product, not … consume it and either discard the product or return it to the store for a full refund,” the company said in its notice.

Sunrise Growers products with different lot codes or “best by” dates are not affected by the recall, it added.

Consumers seeking more information may email recall@sunrisegrowers.com; or call 1.888.490.5591 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

Frozen Fruit Sold at Target, Trader Joe's, and Walmart Recalled Due to Listeria Risk
Source: Pinoy Lang Sakalam

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