Nationwide fruit recall issued over bacteria fears

Wawona Packing Co. – a major supplier to Trader Joe’s, Walmart and other nationwide retailers – is recalling Sweet 2 Eat brand peaches, plums, nectarines and pluots because of potential listeria contamination, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.

Listeria monocytogenes can lead to serious and even fatal infections, especially in young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. Infections can be particularly harmful for pregnant women.

The Cutler, California-based company is pulling about three dozen brand products of bulk and packaged fruit nationwide, the FDA said in a statement on Monday.

Retail cartons may have the brand names Wawona, Sweet 2 Eat or Harvest Sweet, it said. There have been no reported illnesses from the products.

The recall was launched based on internal company testing. Wawona shut down the implicated packing lines, retrofitted equipment, sanitized the plant and retested.

Subsequent tests have been negative, the FDA said. The recalled products were shipped directly to retailers and wholesalers.

Companies affected by the recall include Trader Joe's, Costco, Walmart and Sam's Club. 

It is unclear how many stores in total sell Wawona's fruit, but Costo said the recall was affecting 450 stores.

Wire services