A third listeria-related fruit recall involves store brands sold at Kroger chains
The run of recalls related to listeria and frozen fruit has reached Kroger, which the nation’s largest supermarket chain.
Four products sold under Kroger’s Private Selection brand got yanked on Wednesday from Kroger stores, as well as Kroger-owned chains Ralphs, Fry’s, Pick n’ Save, Dillions, Baker’s, Food 4 Less, FoodsCo, Gerbes, Jay C, Mariano’s, Metro Market, Pay Less, Smith’s and Ruler.
The first of these recalls slapped the store brands of the nation’s largest grocery sellers, Walmart and Amazon (via Whole Foods Market), as well as Aldi, Target, Trader Joe’s and an alliance of independent grocers.
Recall No. 2 hit even more Trader Joe’s stores and health food stores in several states.
Here’s what to know about the third recall.
What’s recalled from Kroger and related stores?
SunOpta blamed the first recall on possibly contaminated pineapple from a third-party and said the products that didn’t have pineapple were recalled because they were made on the same production line before it was cleaned.
Townsend Farms, which made the Private Selection products, said in its FDA-posted recall notice that it is recalling the following products because they have “mango chunks supplied by SunOpta.”
Look on the back panel for the date code.
▪ Private Selection Tropical Mango Chunks in 48-ounce bags with best by dates:
4/30/24, T1, F2202171; T2, F2202172; T1, F2202182, and T2, F2202183.
05/04/24, T1, F2202225 and T1, F2202229.
05/07/24 ,T4, F2202236 and T4, F2202241.
07/18/24, T3, F2300116.
▪ Private Selection Strawberry, Mango & Pineapple Blend in 16-ounce bags with best by dates:
04/30/24, T4, F2202174 and T4, F2202185.
05/04/24, T2, F2202227.
05/28/24, T2, F2202332.
▪ Private Selection Classic Fruit Medley in 48-ounce bags with best by dates:
05/03/24, T3, F2202213 and T3, F2202220.
05/04/24, T3, F2202226 and T3, F2202230.
05/10/24, T3, F2202268 and T3, F2202273.
05/18/24, T3, F2202319 and T3, F2202325.
▪ Private Selection Blueberries, Strawberries & Mangoes in 48-ounce bags with best by dates:
04/30/24, T3, F2202173 and T3, F2202184.
05/07/24, T3, F2202235 and T3, F2202240.
05/08/24, T6, F2202247.
These went to stores from the aforementioned chains in Texas, Kentucky, Missouri, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi and South Carolina, as well as Indiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
What is listeria?
Listeria kills about 260 of the 1,600 Americans infected each year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Senior citizens, pregnant women and children under 5 are the most vulnerable to listeria’s worse effects. Listeria can cause stillbirths and miscarriage. Listeria symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, high fever, severe headaches, stomachaches, stiffness, confusion and poor balance.
What should you do now?
If you have any of the above products, return them to the store for a full refund. Or throw them in the trash and cover your trash to make sure no animals can get to the food. You can also call Kroger about a refund, 800-632-6900, Option No. 1, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to midnight, Eastern time, Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Eastern time.
If you want information about the products in the recall, email recalls@townsendfarms.com or call 503-512-1317, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to midnight, Eastern time, Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Eastern time.
