A recall on peaches and stone fruit has had its dates expanded as a precautionary measure. KDLG’s Chase Cavanaugh has more.
Last month, the Wawona Packing Company issued a recall on various types of stone fruit, including whole white and yellow peaches, white and yellow nectarines, plums, and pluots. During their internal testing, the company detected listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that can cause listeriosis. The disease typically causes high fever, headache, neck stiffness, and nausea, but in more extreme cases, can cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as fatal infections in the immunocompromised. Breehan Cole is a section manager with Alaska’s food safety program. She says the recall originally covered fruits packed between June 1st and July 12th, but has been expanded.
“It’s been expanded from July 12th to now the 17th, and the reason for that is just as a precautionary step to cover all the products packed in that plant and because they haven’t identified the source yet of the listeria.”
Wawona was unable to identify the actual batches affected, which is why the recall is so broad. Cole says more information can be found at the state’s food safety website, and that if people have an affected batch, they shouldn’t consume it.
“Anyone who has any of the recalled product shouldn’t consume it and should discard it, and if they are seeking reimbursement, then they should return it to the store where they purchased the product to request a refund, providing the proof of purchase or receipt. They can also contact the consumer information desk at the packaging plant, and that phone number is 1-888-232-9912, Monday thru Friday, and then it also has a line from Saturday to Sunday at 8AM to 8PM Eastern Standard Time.”
More information on the recall is available online at the Food Safety website.
