Recall of California Peaches Due to Listeria Risk

Recent reports indicate that two varieties of California peaches are being recalled across the United States due to potential listeria contamination, as highlighted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The recall affects raw white peaches, yellow peaches, and “peppermint” peaches from Moonlight Companies. These peaches have been sold in grocery stores nationwide, including popular chains like Trader Joe’s and Kroger, as well as Mariano’s, Pick ‘n Save, Metro Market, and several others. Specifically, some of these peaches were sold under the Kroger brand.

These fruits were available for purchase, both individually and in multipacks, between September 16 and October 29 of this year.

Consumers should be on the lookout for PLU stickers 4401 and 4044 if they buy fruit individually. For those who purchased multipacks, the FDA has provided lot numbers and UPC codes for identification. Importantly, any fruit labeled “Washington” or “organic” is not affected by this recall.

Trader Joe’s specific distribution of these peaches occurred in states including Arizona, California, Connecticut, and several others from September 24 to October 28.

Kroger confirmed that the recalled peaches were sold in locations across various states, including Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, and parts of Virginia, among others.

Understanding Listeria

Listeriosis, commonly referred to as Listeria, is a serious infection that can arise from consuming food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, according to the CDC.

The FDA cautions that this kind of infection can be life-threatening, especially for young children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems.While healthy individuals may experience only mild symptoms—like high fever, severe headache, and nausea—more severe consequences can occur for pregnant people, including miscarriages.

As of now, the FDA reported no confirmed illnesses related to these peaches as of October 29.