A total of 11 instances of a listeria outbreak, which has been linked to whole peaches, nectarines, and plums, have been reported in seven states. As of Monday, three cases have been documented in California, making it the state with the highest number of cases after Florida, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The remaining five cases were reported in Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, and Ohio. The CDC revealed that 10 individuals have been hospitalized, with one fatality recorded in California. The outbreak has persisted from 2018 until August of this year.
Through interviews with those infected and laboratory testing, it has been confirmed that whole peaches, nectarines, and plums from HMC farms are causing illnesses. The CDC stated that listeria was found in a peach sample by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Consequently, HMC voluntarily recalled its fruits on Friday. The recalled fruits were sold nationwide between May 1 and November 15, 2022, as well as between May 1 and November 15 this year, due to potential contamination. The CDC suggests that the number of affected individuals is likely higher than what has been reported.
To ensure safety, retail stores should have removed the recalled peaches, nectarines, and plums from their shelves. Consumers are advised not to consume these fruits and to discard them if found at home. Additionally, it is important to clean any surfaces, refrigerators, freezers, and containers that came into contact with the contaminated food, as listeria can easily spread.
It is important to note that this outbreak is unrelated to the salmonella outbreak associated with cantaloupes, which was announced by the CDC on Friday and recorded one case in California.
For further inquiries, individuals can contact HMC’s consumer information desk at 844-483-3867 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. from Monday to Friday, as stated by the FDA.
The CDC highlights that symptoms of listeria can manifest as early as the same day after consuming contaminated food. Pregnant individuals, those aged 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of developing severe complications due to listeria spreading beyond the gut.
The CDC is also investigating other fruit products for possible contamination.
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