Listeria Tainted Fruit Sold In Illinois Recalled, 11 Sick, 1 Dead

Another day, another recall. This time, the food product(s) undergoing scrutiny happen to be fruits; whole peaches, plums, and nectarines that were sold across the country. Now, eleven people across 7 states (including Illinois) have become infected with listeria, and one of them has died. A pregnant woman who was also infected went in to preterm labor.

As I'm sure you know, listeria is not something that you want to deal with. The FDA describes it like this:

An organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

In Its Warning To Consumers On Tuesday, The FDA Listed All Of The Major Retailers Who Sold The Fruit That Is Being Recalled

And it's pretty much everywhere:

• Walmart
• Sam's Club
• Aldi
• Publix
• Albertson's
• Sprouts Farmers Market

So far, cases have been reported here in Illinois, California, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Michigan and Ohio. According to the CDC, an estimated 1,600 Americans get listeriosis each year and about 260 die from it, mostly from eating contaminated food.

Alright, Here's The Information You'll Need To See If You Have Any Of This Recalled Fruit At Your Place, And What To Do If You Find Some

According to the FDA announcement, HMC Group Marketing, Inc., which does business as HMC Farms, is voluntarily recalling peaches, plums and nectarines sold in retail stores between May 1 and November 15, 2022 and between May 1 and November 15, 2023.

This recall includes only conventionally grown fruit – no organic fruit is being recalled. Peaches, plums, and nectarines currently available for sale at retail stores are not included in this recall.

Although the recalled fruit is no longer available in stores, the concern is that many people may have frozen the fruit to eat at a later date. Check your freezer for the items, and throw them away if you find any. Do not consume the fruit.

Here's what to look for:

FoodSafetyNews.com:

The recalled fruit can be identified by looking for the following information. Individual pieces of fruit with PLU stickers on the fruit labeled USA-E-U containing the following numbers:

• Yellow peach: 4044 or 4038
• White peach: 4401
• Yellow nectarine: 4036 or 4378
• White nectarine: 3035
• Red plum: 4042
• Black plum: 4040

HMC Farms peaches, plums, or nectarines were sold in HMC Farms-branded bags, and Signature Farms peaches or nectarines were sold in Signature Farms-branded bags and labeled with 6359 printed on a white sticker on the bag.