Dozens of frozen fruit products sold at Target, Trader Joe’s, Walmart and 3 other retailers recalled
Frozen fruit products distributed to Walmart, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Target, Aldi and AWG stores in over 30 states have been voluntarily recalled due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
SunOpta Inc’s subsidiary, Sunrise Growers Inc., issued the voluntary recall of specific frozen fruit products related to pineapples supplied by a third-party supplier, the company announced in cooperation with the US Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday.
In the recall notice, SunOpta and the FDA urged consumers to check their freezers for the recalled product and not consume it, but rather discard the product or return it to the store for a full refund.
“Our commitment to food safety remains our highest priority. Sunrise Growers has ended all future business with the third-party supplier,”[ads1]; the company said in a statement.
Click here for a complete list of products, batch codes, best by dates and other relevant FDA recalled product information.
There were a number of generic and branded products affected by the recall that were distributed to the six major retailers. The products listed below, written by the FDA, are all part of the voluntary recall.
Walmart: Value Mixed Fruit, Value Dark Sweet Cherries, and Value Mango Bites are sold in stores in AR, AZ, CA, CO, DC, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE , NM, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TX, UT, VA, WV and WY from January 19, 2023 to June 13, 2023
Full meal: 365 Organic Tropical Fruit Medley, 365 Organic Pineapple Chunks, 365 Pineapple Chunks, 365 Organic Whole Strawberries, 365 Organic Sliced Strawberries & Bananas and 365 Organic Blackberries distributed to select stores across the US from November 1st through June 232nd, 2020.
Trader Joe’s: Trader Joe’s Organic Tropical Fruit Blend distributed to select distribution centers or stores in AK, AL, CT, CO, DE, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NE, NH , NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI and Washington DC from March 28, 2023 to April 11, 2023
Goal: Good & Sank Organic Cherry & Berry Fruit Blend, Good & Sank Dark Sweet Whole Pitted Cherries, Good & Sank Mango Strawberry Blend, Good & Sank Mixed Fruit Blend, Good & Sank Mango Bites, Good & Sank Blueberry, and Good & Sank Triple Berry The blend is distributed nationwide from 14 October 2022 to 22 May 2023
Aldi: Season’s Choice Tropical Blend distributed to select distribution centers or stores in AL, AR, CT, FL, GA, IA, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NY, OH, OK, PA , RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT and WV from October 11, 2022 to May 22, 2023
AWG (Associated Wholesale Grocers): Best Choice Pitted Red Tart Cherries Unsweetened distributed to select distribution centers or stores in KS, MO, NE and OK from April 5, 2023 to May 4, 2023 To date, there have been no illnesses associated with this voluntary recall.
“All other Sunrise Growers products that have different lot codes or best-by dates are not affected by this recall. Affected retail customers have been notified of this recall and instructed to remove recalled products from store shelves and inventory.
Health risks of Listeria
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, listeria can cause serious illness “when the bacteria spreads beyond the gut to other parts of the body” after a person has consumed contaminated food. Those at higher risk include pregnant women, those 65 or older, or anyone with a weakened immune system, the CDC says.
“If you are pregnant, it can lead to pregnancy loss, premature birth, or a life-threatening infection in the newborn,” the CDC says on its website. “Other people can be infected with Listeria, but they rarely become seriously ill.”
According to the CDC, anyone infected with listeria can experience “mild food poisoning symptoms” such as diarrhea or fever, and many recover without antibiotic treatment.
