Wawona Packing Company Fruit Recall and Listeria monocytogenes
Wawona Packing Company Fruit Recall and Listeria monocytogenes
Date: July 24, 2014
This health alert informs the medical community about a recent fruit recall due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination and provides resources for clinicians on listeriosis and on the management of high-risk individuals with potential exposure.
Fruit Recall
Wawona Packing Company of Cutler, California, voluntarily recalled certain lots of whole peaches (white and yellow), nectarines (white and yellow), plums, and pluots packed between June 1, 2014, and July 12, 2014, due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Wawona Packing has notified retailers of the specific recalled lots and the County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health has confirmed with local retailers that recalled fruit is no longer for sale.
Consumers can identify the recalled products by the photographs and lot number information provided at the FDA recall website. Anyone who has the recalled products in their possession should not consume them and should discard them. Consumers with questions may contact Wawona Packing at 1 (888) 232-9912 or visit www.wawonapacking.com for more information. Whole Foods has recalled in-store products made from the stone fruits recalled by Wawona. Other recalls may occur associated with this fruit, and updates on those distributed in California may be found at http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/Pages/fdbFr.aspx No illnesses have yet been linked to these recalls.
Background on Listeriosis
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 1,600 illnesses and 260 deaths due to listeriosis occur annually in the United States. Young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems are at highest risk for serious and sometimes fatal infections from Listeria. 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 miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. More information on Listeria may be found at http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/.
Food recalls for possible Listeria contamination occur several times each year. The largest U.S. listeriosis outbreak occurred in 2011 when 147 illnesses, 33 deaths, and 1 miscarriage occurred among residents of 28 states. That outbreak was associated with consumption of cantaloupe from a single farm.
There were 67 cases of listeriosis reported in San Diego from 2009 through 2013 for an annual average of 13.4 cases per year. Although only two cases have been confirmed so far this year, 16 cases were reported in 2013. Several local Listeria infections have been linked over the years to consumption of unpasteurized milk and cheese, in particular imported queso fresco (soft Mexican-style cheeses) that were either made from unpasteurized milk or contaminated during cheese-making. More information about the risks of consuming queso fresco is available at http://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/specific-foods/listeria-and-food.html.
Recommendations for Healthcare Providers
CDC's guidance document — “Suggested framework for medical management of persons at elevated risk for invasive listeriosis who are exposed to Listeria monocytogenes” — is the product of an expert panel convened during the 2011 outbreak of listeriosis linked to cantaloupe.
The risk of invasive listeriosis after exposure to Listeria monocytogenes is very low; although exposure is common, disease is rare. It was the consensus of the expert panel that no testing or treatment is indicated for an asymptomatic person with elevated risk of invasive listeriosis who ate a product recalled because of Listeria contamination.
Patient management decisions for asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic persons are appropriately made on a case-by-case basis, informed by clinical judgment and the likelihood of exposure of the patient.
Suspected or confirmed listeriosis should be reported within one working day to the County of San Diego Epidemiology Program by faxing a Confidential Morbidity Report to (858) 715-6458 or calling (619) 692-8499.
Resources for clinicians on listeriosis may be found at the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/resources.html.
Questions may be directed to County of San Diego Epidemiology Program at (619) 692-8499.
CAHAN San Diego
County of San Diego, Health & Human Services Agency
Epidemiology and Immunization Services Branch
Phone: (619) 692-8499 • Fax: (858) 715-6458
Urgent Phone for PM / Weekends / Holidays: (858) 565-5255
Email: cahan@sdcounty.ca.gov
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CAHAN San Diego Alerts are intended for the use of public health, medical, and laboratory professionals in San Diego County. This alert has been approved for reproduction and distribution to interested professionals. An online CAHAN San Diego application is available at http://www.cahansandiego.com for appropriate and interested individuals.