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Don't Wash Recalled Fruit, Discard it, Company Advises

Fresh peaches, plums, nectarines and pluots sold at Costco, Trader Joe's and Sam's Club may be contaminated with listeria.
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Don't wash the peaches, toss them, a California company advises, after recalling specific lots of its fresh fruit, plums, nectarines and pluots sold nationwide over concerns of possible listeria contamination.

No illnesses have been linked to the fruit, but Wawona Packing Co. president Brent Smittcamp said the voluntary recall was announced this week after consulting with the Food and Drug Administration.

The recalled fruit was packed and shipped to retailers including Costco Wholesale Corp., BJ's, Sam's Club and Trader Joe's from June 1 through July 12, Wawona Packing said. However, Wawona also sells to various wholesalers who then sell the fruits to retailers, so the products may be in other store nationwide, according to a spokesperson for the company.

"That is why it is hard to give a list of all the stores," said Lisa Watson, a spokesperson for the company. "And again, because it went to wholesalers it potentially could have gone all over the country."

By this time, retailers should have pulled the fruits from shelves. Any consumers with the recalled fruit should discard it. Washing it does not guarantee the bacteria will be eliminated, the Food and Drug Administration says.

Image: Peaches linked to the listeria recall.
Peaches linked to the listeria recall.Wawona Packing

Information including lot codes, labels and pictures is at Wawona's website. Consumers can also call 888-232-9912.

Listeria can cause flu-like symptoms, such as high fever, headache, nausea and diarrhea.

After discovering the contamination, Wawona sanitized the facility, although it is not not back in production yet. Subsequent tests have been negative for the bacteria.

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