FDA Announces Frozen Fruit Recall

An overabundance of caution led one company to pull its frozen pineapple products from shelves after potential exposure to a dangerous bacterium.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday that Sunrise Growers Inc. issued a voluntary recall for multiple frozen fruit products that could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The company cited pineapple obtained from a third-party source as the cause of the potential contamination.

The CDC defines listeriosis as a potentially dangerous infection that occurs when one consumes food infected with Listeria monocytogenes. According to the agency, about 1,600 people contract the illness per year, and about 16% of cases are fatal.

Pregnant women, children, immunocompromised individuals, newborns, and people aged 65 and up are at particular risk of becoming seriously ill from the bacteria. According to the recall notice, less severe symptoms can include nausea, severe headache, stiffness, and abdominal pain.

While the bacteria has been known to infect refrigerated products such as cheeses, fish, deli meats, salads, and more, the CDC said it is difficult to remove in the manufacturing process and can spread through contaminated equipment and surfaces.

The fruit products in question were shipped to multiple states — including Texas — and sold at retailers such as Walmart, Whole Foods, Target, Trader Joe’s, Aldi, and Associated Wholesale Grocers.

The list of products affected by the recall includes the following:

Target 

• Good & Gather Organic Cherries and Berries Fruit Blend
• Good & Gather Dark Sweet Whole Pitted Cherries
• Good & Gather Mango Strawberry Blend
• Good & Gather Mixed Fruit Blend
• Good & Gather Mango Chunks
• Good & Gather Blueberries
• Good & Gather Triple Berry Blend

Walmart 

• Great Value Mixed Fruit
• Great Value Dark Sweet Cherries
• Great Value Mango Chunks

Whole Foods 

• 365 Organic Tropical Fruit Medley
• 365 Organic Pineapple Chunks
• 365 Pineapple Chunks
• 365 Organic Whole Strawberries
• 365 Organic Slice Strawberries and Bananas,
• 365 Organic Blackberries

Aldi

• Season’s Choice Tropical Blend

Trader Joe’s 

• Trader Joe’s Organic Tropical Fruit Blend

Associated Wholesale Grocers

• Best Choice Pitted Red Tart Cherries Unsweetened

While no illnesses related to these products have been reported, officials urge citizens concerned about contracting the disease to contact their healthcare providers.

In addition to the Sunrise Growers Inc. recall, several major retailers issued voluntary recalls for frozen products on June 13 due to possible contamination of the hepatitis A virus, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.