Usually, blueberries make an excellent healthy snack. Packed full of antioxidants, vitamins C and K, minerals like manganese and fibre, they can help support heart health, brain function, and to manage blood sugar levels - and they're tasty, too.
However, fruit-lovers in the US have been warned about an extensive blueberry recall over contamination concerns, which has been raised to the highest possible level due to the increased risk.
The Class I recall is defined by the FDA as 'a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death', which are scary words to be associated with some yummy little berries.
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The recalled blueberries are those shipped to a single customer in North Carolina, identified by Lot numbers: 13325 G1060 / 13325 G 1096. 400 boxes, weighing 30 pounds each, of organic blueberries were recalled voluntarily by Alma Pak International LLC on June 9, because they tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, a disease-causing bacteria, during routine testing.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), listeria is a 'bacteria that can contaminate many foods', causing various symptoms including intestinal illness. Listeria infection is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States, killing roughly 260 people per year.
In healthy people, listeria infection might cause mild, flu-like symptoms - or even no symptoms at all - but in vulnerable people like pregnant women, newborns, older adults and those with weakened immune systems, listeriosis can lead to severe, even life-threatening conditions.
Symptoms to watch out for include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, and on the more severe end of the spectrum those affected could experience neurological symptoms like confusion, loss of balance and convulsions, sepsis, and meningitis. For pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriage, premature delivery or stillbirth.
Blueberries aren't the only product to be recalled due to a listeria risk, however. Last month, FreshRealm’s chicken fettuccine alfredo products were recalled after the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said they may be “adulterated” with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes.
With the effects of listeria infection being so serious, consumers are urged to check that they don't have any of the affected batches kicking about. Those who experience any of the symptoms of a listeria infection should contact a healthcare provider immediately.
Rachael Davis