Yonkers, NY-based Jac. Vandenberg Inc. has recalled 1,727 cartons of fresh peaches, 1,207 cartons of fresh nectarines and 365 cartons of fresh plums that were being sold to the public by such major retailers as Costco and Walmart.
The imported fruit may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Others 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.
The Fresh Peaches, Fresh Nectarines and Fresh Plums were distributed in Alabama, California, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia through small retail establishments and the following select retail stores:
| Retail Stores | States | Product |
|---|---|---|
| ALDI | Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia | Nectarines, Peaches, Plums |
| Costco | California | Nectarines |
| Fairway Market | New York | Nectarines, Peaches |
| Hannaford | Maine | Peaches |
| Market Basket | Massachusetts | Nectarines, Peaches |
| Walmart | Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia | Nectarines (MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA, WV), Peaches (KY, NJ, NY, OH, PA, WV) |
The peaches and nectarines are sold as a bulk retail produce item with PLU sticker (PLU# 4044, 3035, 4378) showing the country of origin of Chile. The peaches, nectarines, and plums sold at ALDI are packaged in a 2-pound bag with the brand Rio Duero, EAN# 7804650090281, 7804650090298, 7804650090304. The nectarines sold at Costco are packaged in a 4-pound plastic clamshell with the brand Rio Duero, EAN# 7804650090212.
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with the recalled fruit.
The recall was the result of a routine sampling program by the packing house which revealed that the finished products contained the bacteria. The company has ceased the distribution of the product as FDA and the company continues the investigation as to what caused the problem.
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