Authorities appear to have intervened before these made it to customers in parts of the Midwest and Pacific Northwest.
The best blueberries this time of year often come from the freezer aisle (which in some cases can be even healthier than fresh)…but if you can find a promising-looking container in the produce aisle, they’re known to be one of the highest-antioxidant fruits.
Unfortunately, a mass quantity was also determined to possibly contain a health hazard. Oregon Potato Company LLC has recalled 55,689 pounds of blueberries for what an FDA report stated as “Listeria monocytogenes.” It’s not clear whether the presence of listeria was confirmed or simply suspected.
The bad news and the good news is that it affected 30-pound cases and 1,400-pound totes. As the FDA report states, this means the “product was not sold to consumers from retail stores.” States that evidently received the bulk-sized product were Michigan, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin, along with Canada.
The mass blueberry recall is said to have been initiated on February 12 and remains “ongoing,” meaning follow-up email alerts to effected customers may still be occurring. This week, the FDA has designated the listeria incidence as a Class I recall, determining “there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”
The Cleveland Clinic explains the following about listeriosis, or listeria infection: “Common symptoms include fever, headache, and diarrhea. Listeria can be dangerous if you’re pregnant or have a weakened immune system.”
The United States Department of Agriculture, or USDA, highlights a unique challenge with this type of bacteria. “Unlike other foodborne illness causing bacteria, Listeria thrives in cool, and damp environments. Listeria is persistent and grows in cool temperatures, even as low as 31 degrees [Fahrenheit].”
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