Fruit Recall 2014: Trader Joe’s, Costco Produce Recalled For Wawona Packing Listeria Contamination

Major U.S. food retailers, including Trader Joe's and Costco (NASDAQ:COST), are being forced to recall some produce items this week following the discovery of possible listeria contamination in several of Wawona Packing Co.’s products.

According to a press release from the Cutler, California, facility, certain lots of white and yellow whole peaches and nectarines, plums and plots, packed between June 1 and July 12 of this year, were found to be potentially contaminated by Listeria monocytogenes, resulting in the company's voluntary recall, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

“The recalled products were shipped directly to retailers and wholesalers who resell the products. Because we do not know the locations of the companies that purchased the products from our direct customers, the company is issuing a nationwide recall,” Wawona Packing reported.

Consumers in possession of any recalled Wawona Packing fruits are being advised to immediately discard their items. (Click here for a full list of item lot codes and product photo labels.)

No illnesses in connection to the recalled items have been reported.

Wawona Packaging says none of its other products have been affected by the recall. The contamination was reportedly discovered after internal company testing. Subsequent testings results, following a sanitization of the facility, have come back negative.

“The company will continue to consult with the FDA, review it processes and make appropriate improvements,” Wawona Packing President Brent Smittcamp said in a statement. “This recall will present challenge for the company, but I am confident that by working together like we have, we will successfully address them and be stronger for it.”

Listeria is an organism known to cause serious and sometimes fatal infections for those with weakened immune systems, especially the very young and the elderly. The organism is also known to cause miscarriages and stillbirths among expectant women. Symptoms of an infection include, but are not limited to, a high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.