A third-party supplier of Sunrise Growers, Inc. may have produced contaminated pineapple … [+]
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 been voluntarily recalled by Sunrise Growers, Inc., a subsidiary of SunOpta, Inc. The recall is due to pineapple supplied by a third-party supplier that may not have been as good as apple. As a June 21 announcement from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicatedcould actually have the pineapple Listeria monocytogenes, which would not be very prolific to eat.
In fact, allow Listeria monocytogenes to enter your gastrointestinal tract can be a heartbreaking experience. If someone asks you, “Would you like some Listeria with that,” just say “No” and “Please leave.” The bottom line is that a Listeria infection can cause your butt to spend a lot of time on the toilet, as abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea can result. Other possible symptoms include a high fever and a severe headache, as I’ve described Forbes earlier. These aren’t exactly “give me some of that” experiences.
But the even bigger concern is when the bacteria moves 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 sucks because about 20% to 30% of those who develop such a condition eventually die. You are more likely to develop invasive listeriosis if you are a young child or older adult, have a chronic medical condition, or otherwise have a weaker immune system.
Things can get even more complicated if you have a bun in the oven, meaning you’re pregnant and not literally baking a piece of bread. A Listeria infection can lead to miscarriages, stillbirth or life-threatening infections in the newborn. Therefore, you are advised to avoid unpasteurized soft cheeses, such as queso fresco and brie, unheated deli meats, deli meats or hot dogs, ready-to-eat deli salads, refrigerated pâté or other types of meat spreads, refrigerated smoked fish if you are pregnant, raw or lightly cooked sprouts , melon that has not been in the refrigerator and raw dairy products.
And whether you are pregnant, younger or older, or have a condition that can weaken your immune system, you should avoid any of the following products from the Sunrise Growers recall as stated 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 Blend, 365 Organic Pineapple Pieces, 365 Pineapple Pieces, 365 Organic Whole Strawberries, 365 Organic Slices of Strawberries and Bananas, and 365 Organic Blackberries distributed to select stores nationwide 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, DC, from March 28, 2023 through April 11, 2023
- Sold at target: Good & Gather Organic Cherry and Berry Fruit Blend, Good & Gather Dark Sweet Cherry Seedless, Good & Gather Mango Strawberry Blend, Good & Gather Mixed Fruit Blend, Good & Gather Mango Chunks, Good & Gather Blueberries and Good & Gather Triple Berry Blend distributed in the US 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, that is, your packages of frozen fruit that are probably in your freezer and not in your pants. Search for one of the product names listed above. If you find such products, check the lot codes and expiration date on the product packaging with that of the June 21 FDA announcement. If there are similarities, consider that the expiration date is never. Return the products for a refund or dispose of them. And throwing it away means not taking it with you to the next company party.
Sunrise Growers has provided an email address for consumers seeking information (recall@sunrisegrowers.com) and telephone number (1-888-490-5591) if you have any questions about this situation. They also “expressed pineapple” that they will no longer do business with the third-party supplier that supplied the potentially contaminated pineapple. After all, you know the saying, “Fool me once with Listeria. Don’t be fooled again.” No one wants the potential of a massive Listeria situation.