FDA issues urgent recall of fruit sold in 43 states over contamination with deadly bacteria

Daily Mail​

4 days ago

Health officials have issued an urgent recall for a fruit product found to be contaminated with a potentially deadly bacteria.
Indiana-based Doehler Dry Ingredient Solutions is recalling packets of its freeze dried fruit - Member's Mark Freeze Dried Fruit - after the bacteria listeria was detected during testing.
The FDA warns consumption of food contaminated with listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns.
Symptoms include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
In more serious cases, it can cause confusion, loss of balance and convulsions if it spreads to the nervous system.
The freeze dried fruit was sold in individual packets as part of 15-pack variety packs.
They were manufactured for the membership-only retailer Sam's Club as part of its Member's Mark brand.
The fruit packets - designed for on-the-go snacking and to add to yogurt, granola and smoothies - were sold at Sam's Club stores in 43 states.
No illnesses or deaths have been reported to date in the recall, but officials are urging anyone who believes they were sickened by the fruit to report their illness.
People have been urged to throw out the contaminated packets or to return it to stores for a full refund.
Revealing the recall, FDA officials said testing by Doehler Dry Ingredient Solutions had detected the bacteria in its products.
The products were distributed between July 1 and July 25 and sold in Sam's Club retail stores.
They have use-by dates ranging from June 24 2027 to July 25 2027.
The dried fruit packs have been sold in 42 states and Puerto Rica, including Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming.
The freeze dried fruit was manufactured by Doehler Dry Ingredient Solutions, which produces a wide range of dry ingredients for the food and beverage industry.
Listeria can contaminate everything from raw vegetables, unpasteurized dairy and deli meats, and is behind about 47 recalls every year.
In the US, around 1,600 people get sick from Listeria infections each year, leading to 260 or so deaths.
In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics.
The pieces of dried fruit (banana, strawberry and apple) were sold as part of a variety pack designed for on-the-go snacking.
Listeria contamination was behind several major recalls last year, including a recall of 10million pounds of beef and poultry used in ready-to-eat meals.
It was also behind a major recall of Boar's Head products, with the outbreak leading to 10 deaths and 61 people sickened by tainted deli meat.
Consumers with questions on the latest recall may contact Doehler Dry Ingredient Solutions customer service.