Listeria-Tainted Fruit: Recall In New York

Thousands of cartons of peaches, nectarines and plums sold at major retailers across 18 states — including Costco and Walmart — have been recalled due to fears they could be contaminated with listeria, and the recall includes New York. The FDA announced last week that Jac. Vandenberg Inc., based in Yonkers, New York, recalled 1,727 cartons of peaches, 1,207 cartons of nectarines and 365 cartons of plums.

“The imported fruit may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems,” the FDA said in a release. Some could experience short-term symptoms including high fever, severe headache, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. A Listeria infection can cause also miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women, the agency warned.

The fruits were sent to retailers in Alabama, California, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia.

No illnesses have been reported. The recall stemmed from routine sampling by the packing house that found the fruits contained the bacteria. The company has stopped distributing the products while the FDA and the company investigate what’s behind the contamination.

The peaches and nectarines were sold in bulk with a PLU sticker (PLU# 4044, 3035, 4378). They originated from Chile.

The peaches, nectarines, and plums sold at ALDI were packaged in a 2-pound bag with the brand Rio Duero, EAN# 7804650090281, 7804650090298, 7804650090304. The recalled nectarines sold at Costco were packaged in a 4-pound plastic clamshell with the brand Rio Duero, EAN# 7804650090212.

Consumers who bought the tainted fruit should return it to the store and receive a refund. Anyone with questions can contact the company at compliance@jacvandenberg.com.

Patch national staffer Dan Hampton contributed to this report.

Photo credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images.