Wegmans Recall Produce Products Due To Listeria Risk

Asbury Park NJ

21 March, 2022

8:47 AM

Description

NEW JERSEY — Garden State shoppers who recently bought pre-cut fruit from Wegmans grocery stores should check their refrigerators for produce that has been recalled due to a possible Listeria contamination. Federal food inspectors said Sunday that Fresh Fruit Up, Inc. is voluntarily recalling several varieties of fresh-cut produce products and ready-to-eat dips due to a risk of Listeria monocytogenes bacterial exposure. Listeria bacteria can cause serious infections, especially for older adults, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and children. Anyone who thinks they may be ill should contact their doctor. According to the FDA, the fruit and vegetable products were packaged in clear plastic containers with tamper-evident seals with "Best if Used By" dates between March 5 and March 23, 2022. The ready-to-eat dips are in seven-oz. clear plastic clamshell containers with "Best If Used By" dates between March 15 to March 31, 2022. The products were processed in Fresh Fruit Up, Inc.'s Lepew, NY facility and distributed throughout New York and surrounding states. The products sold at Wegmans that are part of the recall include: Wegmans 10 oz. watermelon chunks; UPC: 077890209066Wegmans 24 oz. mini hearts; UPC: 077890938096Wegmans 32 oz. watermelon chunks; UPC: 077890246610Wegmans 32 oz. pineapple spears; UPC: 077890251843Wegmans 32 oz. cantaloupe spears; UPC: 077890260579Wegmans 32 oz. melon trio; UPC: 077890495520 If your product has an eight-digit code underneath the best by date as follows: 02101XXX that denotes that package is unaffected by this recall and is safe to consume. The full list of recalled products, with product descriptions and UPC codes, can be found Other brands involved in the recall include Fresh Harvest, Lexington Co-op., Tops and Fruit Fresh Up Raspberry Dip. So far, no one has reported being sickened by the contamination, which was identified when the environmental program found surfaces where the products are packaged to contain Listeria monocytogenes, officials said. Symptoms of listeriosis, as the infection is called, include fever, muscle aches, headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions and diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, still births or premature delivery, officials said. Anyone in the high-risk categories who experiences flu-like symptoms after eating possibly contaminated food should seek medical care and tell their doctors about eating the contaminated food, according to FDA guidance. The infection can be treated with antibiotics. Officials ask anyone who may have bought the contaminated products to search their refrigerators or freezers and throw the products away or return them to where they were purchased. All products may be returned to any Wegmans customer service desk for a full refund. Consumers can call Wegmans Food Markets at 855-934-3663 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. or Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Questions about the recall can also be directed to Fruit Fresh Up, Inc. at 716-684-3400, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST.