Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. (“Del Monte Fresh”) announced Wednesday the voluntary recall of fresh-cut fruit products containing Gala red apples grown in Pennsylvania. The affected products were distributed to a limited number of customers in a few states in the northeast U.S. and are being recalled because these apples have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. The fresh-cut red apples have a red-colored skin. The recalled fresh-cut fruit packages containing red apples were distributed for sale in clear plastic containers with one of the following labels and markings:

The voluntary recall of the fresh-cut fruit products containing red apples is being implemented as a result of a random test by the Division of Food Safety of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, and FDA was advised on Dec. 9, 2014. Although no illnesses have been reported to date, Del Monte Fresh voluntarily decided to recall the potentially affected lot. Consumers who believe that they are in possession of the fresh-cut fruit products containing the affected red apples should dispose of the products in an appropriate waste container. For any inquiries, consumers may call 1-800-659-6500 (operating 24 hours a day) or email Del Monte Fresh at Contact-US-Executive-Office@freshdelmonte.com. Listeriosis symptoms may include fever and muscle aches, sometimes preceded by diarrhea and other gastrointestinal distress, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.