Blueberry Recall: This news is different about North Carolina blueberry eaters. According to The Independent and Newsweek, Alma Pak International LLC recalled 400 boxes of organic blueberries on June 9 because they contained Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. The FDA on July 1 called it a Class I recall, which means eating these blueberries can cause serious illness or death. These were sent to a customer in North Carolina.
Listeria is a bad bacteria that spreads through food. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), foodborne illness is the third leading cause of death in the US. 1,600 people get sick each year and 260 die. Mild symptoms like fever, muscle pain, vomiting or diarrhea may occur. But the elderly, pregnant women or those with weakened immune systems are at greater risk. They may have serious problems like headache, disorientation or seizures.
Alma Pak International LLC, based in Georgia, found Listeria in routine testing. These 400 boxes, each containing 30 pounds of blueberries, are from lot numbers 13325 G1060 and 13325 G1096. The Independent reports these blueberries were sent to just one customer but it’s not clear if it was a store, distributor or someone else. If you have these blueberries, don’t eat them. Throw them away or return them to where you bought them.
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The thing about Listeria is it can also grow in the fridge. DailyMail.com says the low pH of blueberries usually protects them from Listeria but this time it didn’t. This is bad for pregnant women as it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth or serious complications in the newborn. If you eat these blueberries and show symptoms like fever, headache or vomiting, go to the doctor ASAP.
This is part of the growing number of food recalls in 2024 and 2025. A story in The New York Times says in 2024, 300 recalls caused 1,400 illnesses, 487 hospitalizations and 19 deaths. Listeria also recently recalled pasta sold at Walmart and Kroger and Boar’s Head’s Daily Meat. This is not the first recall of Alma Pak; In 2019 their BlackBerry was recalled due to Norovirus.
Don’t eat these blueberries and clean your fridge, utensils and kitchen thoroughly as Listeria can spread to surfaces. If you live in North Carolina and bought organic blueberries in bulk, check the lot number. The Economic Times says Alma Pak recovered all the blueberries before they hit the retail market but still be cautious. The FDA number is 1-888-463-6332 if you have questions.
The recall is part of the growing concern about food safety. People.com says products like shrimp, cheese and donuts were also recalled due to Listeria. Blueberries are healthy because they lower blood pressure and inflammation. But with Listeria these become dangerous. Always wash fresh fruit and check the FDA’s recall alerts.
Mark Phury is a dynamic sports enthusiast with a knack for capturing the thrill of the game. With 3 years at Hindustan Times, he delivers sharp, engaging stories that resonate with fans. Reach him at markphury@gmail.com for insights that score every time.