Fruit sold at Walmart and a gas station chain recalled. The FDA found listeria.
Various food products with watermelon made for RaceTrac stations and Walmart stores in nine states have been recalled after the FDA found listeria, manufacturer Country Fresh announced.
What’s unusual about this listeria-related recall is, according to the Country Fresh-written, FDA-posted recall notice, the agency found the listeria not in the watermelon, but on the packing equipment.
Recalled from the Walmarts are:
▪ Watermelon in 10-ounce containers with lot Nos. URR0103 expiring 10/2/2020, URE0103 expiring 10/3/20 and URS0103, expiring 10/4/2020; 16-ounce containers lot Nos. URR0103 expiring 10/2/2020 and URS0103, expiring 10/4/2020; 32-ounce and 42-ounce containers, lot Nos. URR0103 expiring 10/2/2020 and URE0103 expiring 10/3/20.
▪ Summer Blend fruit mixes in 5-ounce containers, lot Nos. URR0103 expiring 10/2/2020 and URS0103, expiring 10/4/2020.
Recalled from RaceTrac are:
▪ Watermelon in 5.5-ounce containers, lot No. URE0103, expiring 10/4/20.
▪ Melon Trio fruit mix in 5.5-ounce containers, lot No. URE0103, expiring 10/4/20.
These were distributed on Sept. 23, 24 and 25 to Walmart and RaceTrac stores. Walmart put out a 13-page list of affected stores Friday morning that listed stores in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.
Customers can either return the watermelon for a refund or just toss out the food.
Those with questions about this recall can call Country Fresh at 877-251-8300, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Eastern time.
As the CDC has said for years, listeria hits 1,600 Americans each year and kills about 260. The most vulnerable to getting the worst from listeria are people with damaged immune systems, senior citizens, newborns and pregnant women. Listeria can cause miscarriages and stillbirths. In most folks, it can cause fever, headaches, muscle aches, stiffness in the neck area, balance problems, confusion and convulsions.
This story was originally published October 2, 2020 at 12:18 PM.
