There have certainly been more frozen fruit recalls in recent weeks than usual (and seemingly, more recalls in general than we’re used to)…and now, we have even more to add to the list, this time affecting the grocery chain Kroger.
After 4 separate recalls on frozen fruit issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in June affecting retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Costco, the FDA has added a new recall due to listeria affecting 4 different frozen fruit products at Kroger stores across the country. But what is listeria, and why has so much frozen fruit been recalled this summer?
READ MORE: Here’s The Reason Why Frozen Fruit Is Being Pulled From Trader Joe’s Immediately, Yikes!
4 Kroger 'Private Selection' Brand Frozen Fruit Products Recalled For Listeria
Kroger, the largest supermarket chain in America, has issued recalls on 4 different store-brand frozen fruit products due to fears of listeria contamination. But what is listeria? According to the FDA, the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes "is generally transmitted when food is harvested, processed, prepared, packed, transported or stored in environments contaminated with L. monocytogenes. Environments can be contaminated by raw materials, water, soil, and incoming air." This means that pretty much at any time in the fruit's life it could have become contaminated with the listeria bacteria, and if consumed could transmit the listeriosis infection, which affects an estimated 1,600 people per year.
4 products sold under the Kroger Private Selection brand were pulled from shelves at Kroger on Wednesday, as well as from Kroger-owned chains Ralph's, Metro Market, Mariano's, Fry's, Pick n' Save, Dillions, Smith's, Baker's, Food 4 Less, FoodsCo, Gerbes, Jay C, Ruler, and Pay Less. The products are:
- Private Selection Tropical Mango Chunks 48oz. bags with best-by dates of 4/30/24, 5/04/24, 5/07/24, and 7/18/24
- Private Selection Strawberry, Mango, & Pineapple Blend 16 oz. bags with best-by dates of 4/30/24, 5/04/24, and 5/28/24
- Private Selection Classic Fruit Medley 48 oz. bags with best-by dates of 5/03/24, 5/04/24, 5/10/24, and 5/18/24
- Private Selection Blueberries, Strawberries & Mangoes 48 oz. bags with best-by dates of 4/30/24, 5/07/24, and 5/08/24.
All of the items were made by Townsend Farms, who said in its FDA-posted recall notice that the recalls were due to the products specifically containing mango chunks supplied by SunOpta—making the mango the likely source of the listeria concerns.
If you have any of these products in your freezer, you can return to Kroger for a full refund or throw them out immediately—be sure to cover any containers holding garbage that may be contaminated with listeria so that no animals are able to access the food. Listeria symptoms include nausea, high fever, diarrhea, severe headaches, stomachaches, confusion, stiffness, and poor balance. You may call Kroger with any concerns or questions at 1-800-632-6900, Option No. 1, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to midnight, EST, Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., EST. If you'd like more information about the recalled products, you can also email [email protected] or call 1-503-512-1317, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to midnight, EST, Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., EST.
Other Frozen Foods Also Recalled From Multiple Chains This Summer
The newest frozen fruit recalls at Kroger are far from the only ones this summer. Frozen organic strawberries were recalled on June 9th due to potential Hepatitis A contamination, with 9 people having fallen ill after consuming the contaminated strawberries. Another recall, also for Hepatitis A concerns, was issued on June 13th for 3 varieties of frozen fruit. All were grown in Baja California, Mexico, and strawberries utilized in frozen fruit products at Walmart, Costco, and H-E-B stores across 32 states were affected.
Another recent recall affected frozen fruit products containing organic pineapple, and hit retailers like Target, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Walmart, Aldi, and AWG. These recalled items, announced on June 21st and 23rd, originated from distributors Scenic Fruit Company and SunOpta, also for possible listeria contamination. SunOpta is the same company that distributed the mango affected by the most recent Kroger recall.
No illnesses have been reported as of yet regarding the listeria concerns, and as far as is known now the only ones reported related to the summer recalls have been the aforementioned Hepatitis A exposures.
