Recall Alert: Walmart Removing Packaged Cut Fruits Due to Possible Listeria Contamination

Cut watermelon and apples are among the produce being recalled

Leading provider of fruits and vegetables Country Fresh has voluntarily recalled various pre-cut packaged fruits after suspecting possible listeria monocytogenes contamination. The packages were distributed to Walmart stores in nine states, including Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.

fruit recall

Photo by FDA

The recall was announced after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discovered listeria on equipment near the area where the products were packaged. The distributor, who earlier recalled only watermelon slices, has now included Freshness Guaranteed-brand cut or sliced apples, grapes, mangos, pineapples, and cantaloupe, that were sold by the Walmart stores.

“The recall is a precautionary measure due to a possible health risk from Listeria monocytogenes detected on equipment used in an area near where these products are packed. FDA discovered these findings during a recent inspection,” FDA said in a statement.

The watermelon packages had a "best before" date of October 4, and other products recalled have a "best if used by" date between October 3 and 11.

Recalled fruit

Photo courtesy of FDA

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause severe and even fatal infections in children, the elderly, and people with a compromised immune system. Listeria infection symptoms may include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. The infection, known as listeriosis, can even cause miscarriages or stillbirth in pregnant women. You can read more about listeria and its symptoms on the FDA agency's website.

“Walmart retail stores are removing the recalled product from store shelves and inventories immediately. Customers who have any recalled product on the list should not consume it and discard it immediately,” noted the FDA.

Till now, no illness has been reported involving the recall of the fruits.

"Country Fresh is working in close coordination with FDA in its continuing investigation to resolve the matter promptly and deeply regrets the inconvenience to our consumers and customers," said the company in a statement.

For any queries, you can call Walmart Customer Service at 1-877-251-8300 Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST.

Have you bought any of these recalled products? Tell us in the comments!