Frozen fruit products distributed to Walmart, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Target, Aldi and AWG stores in more than 30 states have been voluntarily recalled due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
SunOpta Inc.’s subsidiary, Sunrise Growers Inc., has issued the voluntary recall for certain pineapple-related frozen fruit products that were provided by a third-party vendor, the company announced Wednesday in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration .
In the recall notice, SunOpta and the FDA urged consumers to check their freezers for the recalled product and not consume it, preferring to discard the product or return it to the store for a full refund.
“Our commitment to food safety remains our top priority. Sunrise Growers has discontinued all future business with the third party,” the company said in a statement.
Click here for a complete list of products, lot codes, best before dates and other pertinent information on FDA recalled products.
Various generic and branded products were affected by the recall and were distributed to the six major retailers. The products listed below are all part of the voluntary recall according to the FDA.
Walmart: Quality mixed fruit, quality dark sweet cherries and quality mango chunks 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
Whole food: 365 Organic Tropical Fruit Mix, 365 Organic Pineapple Chunks, 365 Pineapple Chunks, 365 Organic Strawberries, 365 Organic Sliced Strawberries and Bananas, and 365 Organic Blackberries to select stores in the US from November 1, 2022 through June 21, 2023 be distributed
Trader Joe’s: Trader Joe’s Organic Tropical Fruit Blend is 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 & Gather Organic Cherry and Berry Fruit Mix, Good & Gather Dark Sweet Whole Pitted Cherries, Good & Gather Mango Strawberry Mix, Good & Gather Mixed Fruit Mix, Good & Gather Mango Chunks, Good & Gather Blueberries, and Good & Gather Triple Berry The blend will be distributed nationwide from October 14, 2022 to May 22, 2023
Aldi: Season’s Choice Tropical Blend is 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, will be 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 related to this voluntary recall.
“All other Sunrise Growers products with different lot codes or best before dates are not affected by this recall. Affected retail customers have been notified of this recall and have been instructed to remove all recalled products from retail store shelves and inventory.”
Health Risks of Listeria
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, listeria can cause serious illness “if the bacteria spread beyond the gut to other parts of the body” after a person consumes contaminated food. According to the CDC, people at higher risk include pregnant people, those aged 65 and older, and those with a compromised immune system.
“Being pregnant can result in pregnancy loss, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection in your newborn,” the CDC’s website states. “Other people can become infected with Listeria, but rarely become seriously ill.”
According to the CDC, anyone infected with Listeria can experience “mild symptoms of food poisoning” such as diarrhea or fever, and many recover without antibiotic treatment.