LEONARDTOWN, MD (July 23, 2014) – The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) is alerting residents to a voluntary food recall from Wawona Packing Company of Cutler, California for certain lots of fresh whole peaches, nectarines, plums and pluots due to possible contamination from Listeria monocytogenes. Because the locations of the companies that purchased the products from the company’s direct customers are not known, they have issued a nationwide recall. No illnesses in Maryland have been linked to this recall at this time.
Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriage and stillbirths among pregnant women.
Based on current distribution information, recalled products are known to have been shipped to the following retail grocery store chains and food service distributors in Maryland:
- Giant
- Safeway
- Trader Joe’s
- Whole Foods Markets
- Costco
- C.H. Robinson
- Class Produce Group
- Lancaster Foods
Additionally, Wegmans Food Market has issued a recall of several in-store bakery products that may contain fresh fruit from Wawona Packing Company. The DHMH Office of Food Protection has contacted the affected facilities to ensure they are aware of the recall and are notifying customers who received the affected products.
The list of affected products and photographs of product labels may be found on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website. For questions about this food recall, please contact the Maryland Division of Outbreak Investigation at 410-767-6700 or the Office of Food Protection at 410-767-8400.