What’s all the Listeria about some of the frozen fruit sold at Target, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Aldi’s and AWG? Well, these stores have been selling frozen fruit products that have being voluntarily recalled by Sunrise Growers, Inc., a subsidiary of SunOpta, Inc. The recall is due to pineapple provided by a third-party supplier that may not have been so-fine-apple. As a June 21 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announcement indicated, the pineapple could actually have Listeria monocytogenes, which would not be very fruitful to eat.
In fact, allowing Listeria monocytogenes to get into your gastrointestinal tract could be a gut-wrenching experience. If a someone asks you, “Would you like some Listeria with that,” just say “No” and “Please go away.” The bottom line is that a Listeria infection can lead to your bottom being on the toilet a whole lot as abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea can result. Other possible symptoms include high fevers and severe headaches, as I’ve described for Forbes previously. These aren’t exactly “give me some of that” experiences.
But the even greater concern is when the bacteria goes beyond your gut and into your bloodstream and central nervous system. That’s when things get really invasive in a condition called invasive listeriosis. Having invasive listeriosis kind of really sucks because around 20% to 30% of those who have developed such a condition end up dying. You are more likely to develop invasive listeriosis if you are a young child, an older adult, have a chronic medical condition or otherwise have a weaker immune system.
Things could get even more complicated if you have a bun in the oven, meaning that your pregnant and not that you are literally baking a piece of bread. A Listeria infection can lead to miscarriages, stillbirths, or life-threatening infections in the newborn. That’s why when you are pregnant, you are advised to avoid unpasteurized soft cheeses, such as queso fresco and brie, unheated deli meats, cold cuts, or hot dogs, premade deli salads, refrigerated pâté or other types of meat spreads, refrigerated smoked fish, raw or lightly cooked sprouts, melon that hasn’t been in the refrigerator, and raw milk products.
And, regardless of whether you are pregnant, younger, older, or have any type of condition that may weaken you immune system, you should avoid any of the following products included in the Sunrise Growers recall as listed by the FDA:
- Sold at Walmart: Great Value Mixed Fruit, Great Value Dark Sweet Cherries, and Great Value Mango Chunks sold in 30 different states from January 19, 2023 through June 13, 2023
- Sold at 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 to select stores throughout the country from November 1, 2022 through June 21, 2023
- Sold at Trader Joe’s: Trader Joe’s Organic Tropical Fruit Blend distributed to distribution centers and stores in 31 different states and Washington, D.C., from March 28, 2023 through April 11, 2023
- Sold at 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 throughout the U.S. from October 14, 2022 to May 22, 2023
- Sold at Aldi: Season’s Choice Tropical Blend distributed to select distribution centers or stores in 27 different states from October 11, 2022 through May 22, 2023
- Sold at AWG (Associated Wholesale Grocers): Best Choice Pitted Red Tart Cherries Unsweetened distributed to distribution centers and stores in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma from April 5, 2023 through May 4, 2023
So check your packages, meaning your packages of frozen fruit that are presumably sitting in your freezer and not your pants. Look for any of the product names listed above. If you find any such products, cross-check the lot codes and “Best by” dates listed on the product packages with those provided by the June 21 FDA announcement. If there are any matches, consider the “Best by” date to be never. Either return the products for a refund or discard them. And discard doesn’t mean bring to the next company potluck.
Sunrise Growers has provided an Consumers seeking information may email address (recall@sunrisegrowers.com) and phone number (1-888-490-5591) if you recall any questions about this situation. They’ve also “pineapple expressed” that they will no longer do business with the third-party supplier that provided the potentially tainted pineapples. After all, you know the saying, “Fool me once with Listeria. Won’t get fooled again.” No one wants the potential of a mass Listeria situation.