Grocery shoppers who purchased peach salsa from Kroger stores across the nation should check their refrigerators immediately, according to federal health officials. Multiple food companies have initiated voluntary recalls for products said to be potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
The recalls stem from California-grown peaches that may carry the dangerous pathogen, a bacterium capable of causing serious infections.
Federal health officials said healthy individuals may only suffer temporary symptoms such as severe headache, high fever, stiffness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and nausea. They noted that the infection carries the risk of causing miscarriages or stillbirths among pregnant women. The infection poses greater risks for young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.
The peaches in question were sold at retail locations nationwide between Sept. 16 and Oct. 29, according to FDA announcements. They were offered either as individual pieces with PLU stickers or as multi-packs. Notably, the recall does not include any of the products labeled with “Washington” or “Organic” designations.
Supreme Produce’s recalled salsa was packaged in clear plastic grab-and-go containers holding 14 ounces and sold under the Supreme Produce brand at Kroger locations in Illinois, Colorado, Georgia, Washington, Indiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oregon and Michigan, according to an FDA announcement published Nov. 3. The product is no longer available for sale but consumers should check their refrigerators.
Snow Fruit brand peach salsa, distributed by Houston-based JFE Franchising Inc., also carries a recall. The affected product includes a 16-ounce plastic clam-shell container of peach salsa retailing for $5.99 to $6.99 at Kroger, according to the Nov. 4 FDA announcement. The company initiated its voluntary recall on Nov. 3 “in alignment with our commitment to consumer safety and regulatory compliance,” the company said in a statement.
The FDA found Listeria monocytogenes in the packing facility for the peaches. The company supplied the peaches to retailers, including Kroger, where they were then used as ingredients in various peach salsa products.
Consumers who possess any of the recalled products should not eat them under any circumstances. The FDA and participating companies urge customers to either throw them away or return them to retail locations for full refunds. Most products are already past their shelf life and should no longer be in distribution.
