The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a press release revealing that Wawona Packing Company of Cutler, California has voluntarily recalled certain lots of whole peaches (white and yellow), nectarines (white and yellow), plums and pluots packed between 1 June through to 12 July.
The recall was made due to the potential of the products being contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Wawona Packing has notified retailers of the specific lots being recalled. No other products are impacted by this recall, and no illnesses have been linked to this recall to date.
'The recalled products were shipped directly to retailers and wholesalers who resold the products,' the FDA noted. 'Because we do not know the locations of the companies that purchased the products from our direct customers, the company is issuing a nationwide recall.'
Consumers can identify the recalled products by the information provided in the attached list and photographs. Anyone who has the recalled products in their possession should not consume them and should discard them.
Wawona Packing has already notified its business customers and requested that they remove the recalled products from commerce. Wawona Packing is voluntarily recalling these products in consultation with the FDA.
The recall was initiated based on internal company testing. The company shut down the implicated packing lines, retrofitted equipment, sanitised the facility and re-tested. Subsequent daily test results have been negative.
'We are aware of no illnesses related to the consumption of these products' said Brent Smittcamp, president of Wawona Packing Co. 'By taking the precautionary step of recalling product, we will minimise even the slightest risk to public health, and that is our priority.'
Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which 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 diarrhoea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
Click here for a series of images demonstrating the produce that has been recalled.
