If your New Year's resolution is to eat more fruit in 2019 [1], then you definitely need to be aware of this nationwide recall news. Tons of fresh peaches, plums, and nectarines sold in 18 different states are being recalled due to a potential listeria contamination. New York-based distributor Jac. Vandenberg Inc. issued the recall on Jan. 24 [2] after detecting traces of the bacteria during a routine sampling of its fruits.
According to the company's announcement, the possibly contaminated fruits were sold at Aldi, Costco, Walmart, Hannaford, Market Basket, and Fairway Market stores in the following states: Alabama, California, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Below is a full breakdown of which stores were selling which affected fruits in which states.
Retailer: Aldi
- Fruit recalled: Nectarines, peaches, and plums
- States affected: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia
Retailer: Costco
- Fruit recalled: Nectarines
- States affected: California
Retailer: Walmart
- Fruit recalled: Nectarines and peaches
- States affected: Nectarines in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia; peaches in Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia
Retailer: Fairway Market
- Fruit recalled: Nectarines and peaches
- States affected: New York
Retailer: Hannaford
- Fruit recalled: Peaches
- States affected: Maine
Retailer: Market Basket
- Fruit recalled: Nectarines and peaches
- States affected: Massachusetts
To decide whether you should toss your recently purchased nectarines, peaches, or plums in the trash, be sure to inspect the stickers and packageing first. The peaches and nectarines under scrutiny were raised in Chile, were sold in bulk, and bear a sticker with one of the following numbered PLU codes: 4044, 3035, or 4378. The peaches, plums, and nectarines sold specifically at Aldi were packaged in a two-pound bag and bear the brand name Rio Duero and one of the following EAN numbers (aka barcodes): 7804650090281, 7804650090298, or 7804650090304. Meanwhile, the Costco nectarines in question were sold in a four-pound plastic clamshell container with the EAN number 7804650090212 and brand name Rio Duero.
Although no associated illnesses have been reported yet, the FDA's comments on the risk of listeria infection are likely enough to make you want to triple-check your fruit labels. "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," the official recall reads. Time for a refrigerator clean-out!