Listeria concerns prompt recall of avocados
Environmental samples taken during a routine government inspection at a California packing facility tested positive for Listeria. There are no reported illnesses associated with this recall.
Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
The recalled products – California-grown conventional and organic avocados – were packed at Henry Avocado’s facility in California, and distributed in Arizona, California, Florida, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Wisconsin. Avocados imported from Mexico and distributed by Henry Avocado are not subject to the recall and may continue to be sold and consumed.
The Henry Avocado conventional avocados are identified with a “Bravocado” sticker. The organic products are marked as organic and include a “California” sticker.
Additional information about Listeria is available on the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
