Major retailers throught the United States, including California, are being forced to pull nectarines, peaches, and plums off the shelves due to the potential of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
Jac. Vandenberg, Inc. of Yonkers, New Yorj announced the recall of 1,727 cartons of Fresh Peaches, 1,207 cartons of Fresh Nectarines and 365 cartons of Fresh Plums. The company said that the discovery was made during routine sampling which is done at the packing house. The testing revealed that the finished products contained the bacteria causing them to cease distribution of the product. The company and the FDA will be investigating to find out the cause of the problem.
The produce was distributed 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.
Retail stores carrying the products include
ALDI in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. ALDI stores in the above states sold Nectarines, Peaches and Plums affected by the recall. In California,
Costco in California sold the affected nectarines.
Fairway Market in New York state has sold the affected nectarines and peaches.
Hannaford in Maine has sold peaches affected by the recall.
Market Basket in Massachusettes sold nectarines and peaches affected by the recall.
Walmart in Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia sold nectarines in (MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA, WV) and peaches in (KY, NJ, NY, OH, PA, WV).
Although no illnesses have been reported to date, Listeria Monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals may suffer short-term symptoms including high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeria infection is also known to cause miscarriages and stillbirths.
The peaches and nectarines are sold as a bulk retail produce item with PLU sticker (PLU# 4044, 3035, 4378) showing the country of origin of Chile. The peaches, nectarines and plums sold at ALDI are packaged in a 2-pound bag with the brand Rio Duero, EAN# 7804650090281, 7804650090298, 7804650090304. The nectarines sold at Costco are packaged in a 4-pound plastic clamshell with the brand Rio Duero, EAN# 7804650090212.
Consumers who have purchased Fresh Peaches, Fresh Nectarines and Fresh Plums are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at compliance@jacvandenberg.com.
