Nearly 150 fruit and vegetable products have been recalled due to fears they may be contaminated with bacteria that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections.
Gracie's Kitchens, based in New Haven, Connecticut, is voluntarily recalling all the fruit and vegetable products that were manufactured at its facility between November 4 and 13, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Thursday.
This is because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, bacteria that can be fatal among young children, frail or elderly people and those with weakened immune systems.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), listeria is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the U.S, causing 1,600 infections and 260 deaths each year.
Among individuals who do not belong to vulnerable groups, listeria infection—otherwise known as listeriosis—usually causes food poisoning symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headaches, diarrhea and vomiting, that should pass within a few days.
Pregnant people exposed to listeria are at risk of pregnancy loss, stillbirth, premature delivery or the life-threatening infection of their newborn.
No illnesses have been reported in connection with Gracie's Kitchens products, as of the FDA's announcement on Thursday.
The recall was initiated after samples taken from the manufacturing facility's environment tested positive for listeria.
These products were sold at grocery stores in Connecticut and New York under three different brand names: Gracie's Kitchens, King Kullen and Wild By Nature.
Impacted products are now all out of date, with sell by dates ranging from November 9 to 24.
However, the FDA has advised consumers to check their freezers for any affected products, and to throw them away or return them to their place of purchase for a full refund.
Consumers with questions can contact Gracie's Kitchens at 203-773-0795, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. till 3 p.m. EST, or email info@gracieskitchens.com.
Newsweek has approached Gracie's Kitchens for comment via email.
There are currently between four and 11 food recalls ongoing in each U.S. state, due to contamination with harmful bacteria, undeclared allergens and contamination with foreign objects such as plastic.
Seven of these recalls have been given a Class I risk level, meaning: "a situation in which there is reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death."
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