Listeria Concerns Lead to Advisory for Broccoli Sold at Walmart in 20 States
Enoki mushrooms and mustard greens were recalled in December due to similar issues.
Braga Fresh, a company based in California, has put out a precautionary advisory urging consumers to refrain from eating broccoli that may be contaminated with listeria bacteria.
Though the product is no longer available for sale in stores, some consumers may have frozen it.
“Consumers who possess this product in their freezers are advised not to consume it and to dispose of it,” stated the FDA.
The items were distributed in Walmart locations across 20 U.S. states, including Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The lot code “BFFG327A6” can be found stamped on the front of the bags.
The advisory was issued after the company discovered the potential for contamination with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. Listeria can “cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, pregnant women, frail or elderly individuals, and others with weakened immune systems,” as mentioned in the notice.
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“While healthy individuals may only experience short-lived symptoms like high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, infection with Listeria monocytogenes can lead to miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women,” the FDA elaborated.
The risk of contamination was identified while the Texas Health & Human Services conducted random sampling at a Walmart store, where one of the samples tested positive for the bacteria.
A package of ready-to-eat, 12-ounce Marketside Broccoli Florets that is currently under recall.FDA
As of now, no illnesses have been reported in connection with this product, according to Braga Fresh. Customers with inquiries can reach the company at 877-456-7445.
Listeria in the United States
According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one in every 25,000 pregnant women in the U.S. contracts listeria annually.
“Listeria can be transmitted to your baby during pregnancy [and] can cause serious harm, even in cases where the mother does not feel very ill. Tragically, one in four pregnant women diagnosed with this illness endure a miscarriage or lose their baby shortly after birth,” the CDC stated.
For older Americans, an estimated 1,600 individuals suffer from listeria each year, with more than half of these cases occurring in those aged 65 and above.
“As one ages, the immune system becomes less effective at recognizing and eliminating harmful bacteria, including listeria. Additionally, stomach acid levels decline, which normally assists in killing germs,” the agency elaborated. “Most older adults with listeria infection end up in the hospital. Unfortunately, one in six older adults who contract this infection do not survive.”
Symptoms typically arise within two weeks after ingesting contaminated food, though some may experience symptoms the same day or as late as 10 weeks after exposure.
“Clean and sanitize all surfaces that food may come into contact with,” the agency recommends. “Using paper towels for surface cleaning is advisable, but if cloth towels are used, ensure they are washed regularly on a hot cycle.”
