Peaches and Plums Are Recalled Over Possible Listeria Contamination

When we think of products that can harm consumers we often think of defective cars such as in the recent massive GM recalls, tires or children’s products.

But the news a California company has issued a voluntary nationwide recall of fresh peaches, plums, nectarines and pluots over concerns of possible listeria contamination, at grow is a reminder that products that grow in nature can also be harmful.

The recall has been made by Wawona. The company said on its website that no illnesses have been reported to date and the recall is a precautionary measure, reports Associated Press.

The company supplies a number of stores including Costco and Trader Joe’s. It said the recalled fruit was packed and shipped to the stores from June 1 through July 12.

The recall followed internal testing at the packing house in Tulare County. The company took action by shutting down its lines, sanitizing the plant and retrofitting some equipment.

Listeria bacteria can cause a dangerous flu-like illness. As Virginia personal injury lawyers, we are acutely aware of the devastating effects of previous outbreaks of illness from contaminated fruit and other food products.

America has seen a number of serious outbreaks related to contaminated foods in recent decades.

• Over the course of six months in 1985, a listeriosis outbreak linked to cheese affected residents of Los Angeles and Orange counties, killing as many as 40 people
• In 1997 in Calhoun County, Michigan, numerous cases of Hepatitis A led to the recall of more than a million pounds of frozen strawberries.
• The U.S. was hit by two E. coli outbreaks in 2006. In the first the FDA linked the hospitalizations to uncooked spinach in 26 states. Three people died, 31 suffered from kidney failure, and 199 people suffered diarrhea and dehydration. Dole recalled all bagged spinach from shelves across the country.
• From September 2008 to January 2009, 529 people from 43 states were infected with salmonella linked to peanut butter. More than 100 people were affected and the salmonella caused up to eight deaths.
• In 2011 a Listeria outbreak linked to contaminated cantaloupes from a Colorado farm, sickened 147 people and killed 35.

If you fall sick due to a contaminated food product you may have a case to file a lawsuit. Contact Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers at 757.455.0077 or see CooperHurley.com.