Now’s a good time to check your fridge and maybe toss some veggies.
Because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a massive recall at some of the country’s largest grocery chains due to a potential listeria contamination.
In an expansion of an initial recall on July 12, more vegetables and bagged salads are being recalled over fears that they may be contaminated with potentially harmful bacteria, according to a New York Post report.
Ohio-based Wiers Farm Inc. expanded its original recall, issued earlier this month to include additional produce sold at major retailers such as Walmart, Aldi and Kroger because it may be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes, according to the notice posted by the FDA.
The additional recalled items include bagged cucumbers, peppers, yellow squash, zucchini squash, green beans and jalapenos, the notice read. They were sold in bags, individually or by the pound at stores in at least 13 states.
The recall was issued “out of an abundance of caution” while the company investigates findings reported by the Michigan Department of Agriculture. These findings are what prompted the expanded recall, Wiers Farm said.
Wiers Farm is working in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Agriculture for its investigation, according to the notice.
Wiers Farm, Inc Expands Voluntary Recall on Whole and Salad Cucumbers Due to Possible Contamination with Listeria https://t.co/DWF4AoyxU3 pic.twitter.com/yKFR74XQFM
— U.S. FDA Recalls (@FDArecalls) July 24, 2024
For consumers, listeria is nothing to mess around with.
When eating food contaminated with the bacteria, people can develop listeriosis, which can last from days to several weeks, depending on the severity.
Mild symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In more severe cases, people may suffer from things such as a headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions, according to the FDA.
However, it can be fatal in young children, elderly individuals and those who have a compromised immune system. An infection can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women, health officials said.