CDC Issues Warning: Listeria Outbreak Linked to Recalled Peaches, Plums, and Nectarines

A serious Listeria monocytogenes contamination has led to the sickness of at least 11 individuals who consumed allegedly dangerous peaches, nectarines, and plums, according to an announcement made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday.

The bacterial outbreak, spanning from August 2018 all the way to August 2023, has affected seven states until now and health officials believe that the actual count of affected individuals surpasses the existing 11 reported sick incidents.

This alarming CDC revelation comes after a voluntary recall of whole peaches, plums, and nectarines initiated by HMC Group Marketing, Inc., better known as HMC Farms.

The affected stone fruits, sold by the company between May 1 and November 15 in both 2022 and 2023, were considered to potentially harboring the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.

Both individually sold and two-pound bagged fruits branded as 'HMC Farms' and 'Signature Farms' have been affected by this recall. All the recalled fruits were conventionally grown rather than being organic.

The company informed that even though the recalled fruits are currently absent from store shelves, there is a possibility that the fruits may still be present in consumer's homes. Therefore, people who may have purchased and frozen these stone fruits have been urged to check their freezer contents and safely discard them without consumption.

Of the total 11 reported cases of Listeria infections, also known as listeriosis, 10 of the afflicted individuals for whom information was available, had to be hospitalized. The CDC also revealed that the infection led to a fatality in California as well as preterm childbirth, caused by an ill-expecting parent.

The word needs to be spread about this Listeria infection outbreak and the associated symptoms of listeriosis, particularly considering that Listeria is responsible for an estimated 1,600 illnesses and 260 death casualties each year, standing as the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the U.S. Those at the highest risk of this ailment include pregnant people and newborns, adults aged over 65 and immune-compromised individuals.

The intestinal illness caused by these bacteria is generally scarcely symptomatic and runs a mild course in nature. Often, these people do not seek medical attention and as a result, Listeria is seldom diagnosed in stool samples.

Symptoms of food-contaminated listeriosis usually develop within a day and may include:

If the intestinal listeriosis progresses to invasive illness, symptoms of a more severe form of the disease may start showing within two weeks of consuming the contaminated stone fruits, which include:

Although the symptoms may remain mild for pregnant individuals, having a Listeria infection at this stage could lead to a miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or a newborn in a life-threatening condition.

Diagnosis of listeriosis is usually confirmed through specific laboratory tests involving body tissues and fluids such as blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and the placenta.

The treatment for an advanced listeriosis episode typically involves administration of antibiotics whereas milder cases that have not progressed beyond an intestinal infection are usually managed with good rest, ample fluid intake and close monitoring.

The multistate infection outbreak is currently under rigorous investigation by CDC and FDA and several other governmental public health and regulatory authorities.

These authorities strongly advise against the consumption, selling or serving of the recalled fruits. Additionally, consumers in possession of these stone fruits have been requested by health officials and HMC Farms to promptly discard them. Furthermore, the consumers may direct their queries at HMC Farms' consumer information desk at 844-483-3867, between 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM ET, Monday to Friday.