Stone Fruits At Costco, Walmart And Aldi Are Being Recalled For Listeria

Peaches, plums and nectarines that were imported from Chile are being recalled at various retailers across the country due to a potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

Photo: Liz West // Flickr, CC 2.0

According to a press release from the FDA, the stone fruits were distributed by Jac. Vandenberg, Inc. in New York, to stores like Walmart, Costco, and ALDI. The cause of the Listeria contamination is currently unknown, but is being investigated after a routine sample check at the company’s packing house tested positive for the pathogen.

While Listeria contamination is typically associated with processed meats and fresh cheeses, it’s not uncommon for the bacteria to get into soil and water and get into nearby-growing produce. Healthy individuals usually only suffer from typical food poisoning symptoms, but the infection can be serious for young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. Listeria is also known to cause miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.

Below is a table the FDA posted showing the full list of states, retailers, and fruits affected by the recall:

At Costco and ALDI, the fruits were packaged under the brand “Rio Duero,” and all of the peaches and nectarines have a Chilean country of origin label (COOL).

So far, no poisonings have been reported yet, but if your fruit is part of the affected batch, it should not be consumed. The FDA is urging those who have bought any recalled produce to return it to the story they bought it for a full refund.