It’s a fruit set to star in festive holiday desserts and salads, but a contamination concern recently exploded for some consumers.
12,000 Pounds of Berries Recalled at the Highest Risk Rating in One State
Published on Jul. 02, 2025
Is it even the 4th of July without one fruity flag-inspired dessert? If you’ve got a particular pick gracing your picnic, you’ll just want to have a recent recall on your radar. In a newly released report from a U.S. agency, authorities say bacteria capable of causing food poisoning has been discovered among a beloved berry.
Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a recall of 12,000 pounds of organic blueberries distributed by Alma Pak International LLC of Alma, GA. The blueberries are potentially contaminated with a bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes, warns the FDA, saying “During routine testing the firm received positive test results of Listeria monocytogenes on their finished product.”
The report states the blueberries were shipped to one customer in North Carolina, but further details were not provided regarding whether the customer was a retailer, distributor, or another type of food business.
Product details provided by the FDA include:
- Organic Bulk Blueberries
- Lot numbers: 13325 G1060 and 13325 G 1096
- Quantity: 400 boxes weighing 30 pounds each (any possible individual unit sizes are not clear from the report)
- Recalling firm: Alma Pak International LLC, Alma, GA
Though the recall was apparently first issued on June 9, it wasn’t until this week that the agency assigned a Class I designation. Class I recalls are the most severe type in the U.S., reserved for products that could cause serious health issues or death.
The presence of Listeria monocytogenes has been an issue in food safety lately—recent recalls of shrimp, pasta, and cheese have all cited detection or risk of the microbe.
Listeria can cause a type of bacterial infection known as Listeriosis. The Cleveland Clinic says most common symptoms of a Listeriosis infection include fever, headache, diarrhea, or vomiting, though certain individuals—including pregnant people or those with weakened immune systems—can face more serious complications.
Summer is said to be the most common season for food poisoning, often thanks to fare sitting out without proper refrigeration. At that get-together if you’re in doubt, consider leaving it off your plate.
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