By Rizza Sta. Ana (media@latinospost.com) | First Posted: Jul 23, 2014 05:52 AM EDT
Tags FDA Listeria fruit recall, FDA Listeria fruit recall list, Wawona fruit recall, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Food and Drug Administration, Walmart, Target, Costco, Fruit Recall, Listeria, FDA

Recently went on a supermarket errand? You may want to throw some of your purchased fruits away.

According to a CNN report, Wawona Packaging Co. has issued a recall of some of its fruits that were packed at its warehouses in Cutler, California between the dates June 1 and July 12. This is due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The affected stores in this latest food contamination crisis include Costco, Trader Joe's, Kroger or Walmart stores, the report said.

Wawona President Brent Smittcamp said in a statement, "We are aware of no illnesses related to the consumption of these products. By taking the precautionary step of recalling product, we will minimize even the slightest risk to public health, and that is our priority."

What makes Listeria monocytogenes a concern? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that causes Listeriosis, or illness that would have a patient experience gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, fever and muscle pain. People who have weakened immune systems, pregnant women, infants and older adults are more susceptible to a serious Listeria monocytogenes infection.

The bacterium claims the lives of an estimated 260 people and affects 1,600 patients annually, CDC added. Although outbreaks have been on the decline since 2011 due to improvement of food preparation, handling and packaging protocols, there is still worry that Listeria monocytogenes could repeat the devastating outbreak that occurred that year when infected cantaloupes from a Colorado farm infected 147 with the disease, and around three dozen were killed.

The discovery of the affected fruit products was due to an inspection conducted by the US Food and Drug Administration. The regulator deemed that the Wawona facilities in California had possibly been infected with Listeria. Although subsequent tests showed negative for the bacterium, the facility was still shut down, CNN reported.

The Los Angeles Times reported that fruits from Food 4 Less, Foods Co. and Ralphs stores have also been recalled due to the possible Listeria contamination.

The FDA is urging to throw out the following fruits or send them to the store where the items were purchased:

whole peaches (white and yellow)
nectarines (white and yellow)
plums and pluots

Moreover, the following fruit-infused cakes and pastries should also be thrown out or returned as well:

Peach Melba Whipped Cream, 34 oz. UPC 7789033104
Fruit-Topped Short Cake, 1/4 sheet, 49 oz. UPC 7789032772
Genoise Cake,1/4 sheet, 64 oz. UPC 7789027385
Fruit-Topped Cheese Cake, large, 54 oz. UPC 7789026438
Fruit-Topped Cheese Cake, small, 18 oz. UPC 7789026441
Fruit-Topped Cream Cheese Pie 40 oz. UPC 7789018953

Vanilla Trifle, 8 oz. UPC 7789080600
Peach Melba Tart, 26 oz. UPC 7789098553
Rectangular Fruit Tart, 37 oz. UPC 20823800000
Mixed Fruit Tart, 30 oz. UPC 20819500000
Square Fruit Tart, 48 oz. UPC 20823700000
Lg. Fruit Strip (Puff Pastry), 11 oz. UPC 20829200000
Sm. Fruit Strip (Puff Pastry), 3 oz. UPC 20829100000
Frangipane (tart), 30 oz. UPC 7789091064
Lg. Fruit Crostata, 21 oz. UPC 20829300000
Sm. Fruit Crostata, 7 oz. UPC 20829900000
Lg. Nectarine Crostata, 21 oz. UPC 20823100000
Sm. Nectarine Crostata, 6 oz. UPC 20832600000

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