Latest news with #AlmaPak
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The Blueberry Recall Just Got More Serious—Here's What To Know
When the Fourth of July rolls around, there's nothing we love more than concocting the perfect, summery sweet treat. However, before you turn to the fruit aisle to grab fresh, seasonal strawberries and blueberries to bring to life that festive American flag cake that's every Pinterest lover's dream or that refreshing fruit salad, think twice. The FDA has issued a recall of hundreds of boxes of blueberries. Here, everything we know and what you ought to know ahead of the holiday weekend. Back in early June, a recall was issued by Georgia-based company Alma Pak International LLC for hundreds of boxes of organic blueberries. As stated by the initial report, the recall came to be when, during routine testing, the product tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. In total, 400 30-pound boxes were part of this recall, identifiable by Lot numbers 13325 G1060 and 13325 G1096. The voluntary recall stated that these products were shipped to one customer in North Carolina. Though it was on June 9 that this recall was first issued, on July 1, the FDA elevated this situation to a Class I threat. As stated by their website, a Class I recall is '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.' While there have yet to be any reports of people falling ill after consuming this particular recalled product, vigilance is key when it comes to food safety. Over the last year, listeria is the word that's been circulating when it comes to recalls, and the symptoms can range from mild to severe. According to the FDA's website, the less severe version of the illness is non-invasive and usually will result in side effects like nausea, vomiting, fever, aches and diarrhea. On the contrary, the invasive version can be fatal. 'Symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions,' says the FDA website. 'Invasive listeriosis is a potentially life-threatening event, especially for newborns, adults over the age of 65, and those with weakened immune systems.' If you think you might have consumed contaminated food, it's best to see your healthcare provider and monitor symptoms. If you start to feel any of the symptoms listed above, seek medical guidance. In a statement to Newsweek, the company revealed that the recall was issued before blueberries even hit shelves, meaning no customers consumed these contaminated products, and therefore, no one was at risk. They continued, 'The company worked in close coordination with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Georgia Department of Agriculture, and an independent food safety consultant to conduct a thorough investigation. Alma Pak International has implemented additional corrective actions and preventive controls to further strengthen its already rigorous food safety systems.' Looking for more trending stories? Click through below! Could '1969' Be the Next 'Yellowstone' Series? Rumors Fly About a Prequel Between '1944' and Today From Tax Breaks to Medicaid Cuts: What the 'Big Beautiful Bill' Means for Americans 50+ Paula Deen's 5 Favorite Fourth of July Recipes—Drinks, Desserts & Deviled Eggs, Oh My! (EXCLUSIVE)
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
FDA upgrades blueberry recall to highest risk level
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) upgraded a blueberry recall this week to the highest risk level amid concerns of contamination. The FDA raised the recall of 400 boxes that weigh 30 pounds to Class I. The blueberry recall, which took place June 9, was initiated after Alma Pak International LLC of Alma, Ga. received a positive result of listeria monocytogenes during routine testing, according to the FDA. FDA's Class I classification is 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.' The firm shipped the blueberries to one customer in North Carolina. The number of the recall is H-0204-2025. Listeria is a bacteria that can contaminate 'many foods,' according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). People who consume those foods can be infected with the bacteria. The infections are rare, but can be serious, the CDC noted. Pregnant women, newborns, adults older than 65 years and people with weak immune systems can be especially harmed if infected, according to the CDC. The CDC estimates that 1,600 people are infected with listeria each year in the United States and 260 people die from the infection. In early February, around 2 million donuts and along with other baked goods, were recalled due to listeria contamination. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Experts warn about dangerous mistake people make while washing fruit amidst deathly blueberry recall
You might think giving your blueberries a quick rinse before eating them is a smart and healthy thing to do, but experts have warned that it could actually be a crucial mistake. Fresh blueberries have been urgently recalled this week by the FDA over fears they could be contaminated with listeria - a dangerous bacteria that poses a 'severe risk' to public health. The FDA 's announcement comes after Alma Pak International LLC, based in Georgia, pulled its blueberries after routine testing detected traces of Listeria monocytogenes. Four hundred boxes of blueberries – totaling 12,000 pounds – were shipped to a single customer in North Carolina, but it is unclear whether they were distributed elsewhere afterwards. Listeria is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. It can cause fever, muscle aches, and even lead to miscarriage or life-threatening infections. Amidst the shocking and dangerous recall, TV star and lifestyle guru Martha Stewart spoke to a slew of experts about washing berries the right way to ensure you're protecting yourself. They claimed that rinsing the yummy fruit under just water isn't actually removing the harmful pesticides, bacteria, or mold that can stick to the skin. Instead, food scientist Bryan Quoc Le, Ph.D., urged people to mix water with white vinegar or baking soda to clean the berries before consumption, per Martha's website. Vinegar has a low pH which makes it effective at dissolving certain pesticide residue and stopping bacterial growth. Baking soda neutralizes bacteria through its alkaline nature. However, if not washed off thoroughly, it leaves behind a bitter-tasting residue, the scientist warned. The cleaning solutions are easy to make at home. The vinegar wash only needs three parts cold water to one part white vinegar, which you can combine in a large bowl. Let the blueberries soak for five to 10 minutes in the mixture, moving them around once in a while, before rinsing with cold water. For the baking soda bath, dissolve one teaspoon of baking soda into two cups of cold water. Let the berries soak for five to 10 minutes before rinsing. They must be dried completely before being stored in the refrigerator. However, heed warning: don't let the blueberries sit in the baking soda wash for more than 15 minutes. 'The skin can begin to degrade if soaked too long, causing flavors to be dissolved in the cleaning solution,' warned Le. Now when should the berries be washed? Experts suggest washing right before eating and not when you first get them because any moisture left on the skin of the berries can cause them to spoil. Once they are washed and dried, they can be eaten or stored in a breathable container lined with a paper towel.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
FDA issues urgent recall for blueberries after classifying it as most severe risk level
The FDA has upgraded its warning about potentially deadly blueberries, indicating a 'reasonable probability' of serious health harms or death. The federal agency's update followed a recall initiated last month by Alma Pak International LLC, a produce packing facility based in Georgia, over concerns that the berries were contaminated with Listeria. Four hundred boxes of blueberries – totaling 12,000 pounds – were shipped to a single customer in North Carolina, but it is unclear whether they were distributed elsewhere afterward. Eating blueberries contaminated with Listeria could cause listeriosis, a potentially severe foodborne illness. Listeria infections often begin with flu-like symptoms, including fever, muscle aches, nausea, and headache. But for vulnerable groups, the disease can be deadly. Pregnant women face miscarriage, stillbirth, or life-threatening complications for their newborns. Older adults and immunocompromised individuals may experience severe neurological effects, including confusion, seizures, and even death. While healthy adults usually recover, the elderly are at much higher risk of fatal outcomes due to age-related immune decline. Four hundred boxes of blueberries – totaling 12,000 pounds – were recalled last month over listeria concerns. The FDA upgraded its warning to the public to the highest risk level 'During routine testing the firm [Alma Pak Int'l LLC] received positive test results of Listeria monocytogenes on their finished product,' according to the FDA. Around 90 percent of people with listeriosis, the infection caused by listeria, require hospitalization, while 20 to 30 percent of patients die. The CDC estimates that of 1,600 cases every year, roughly 260 do not survive. The FDA's new risk level, Class I, 'represents 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,' according to the FDA. Each of the 400 boxes of blueberries weighing 30 pounds was delivered to North Carolina, but it is unclear whether that recipient was a distributor, a store, or other business, or a private individual who loves blueberries. The FDA has not yet responded to questions. Blueberries are generally considered low-risk for harboring Listeria due to their low pH environment, and outbreaks linked to blueberries are rare. Far more common are outbreaks of listeriosis linked to deli meat. At least 61 people were hospitalized, and 10 people died of listeriosis linked to Boar's Head deli meats last year. The outbreak could be traced back to unsanitary conditions – including mold, insects, and liquids dripping from the ceiling – at the company's processing plant in Jarratt, Virginia. One victim of the outbreak was Günter Morgenstein, an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor, fell ill days after eating Boar's Head sausage, developing Listeria-induced meningitis. He died from severe brain inflammation. Sue Fleming, 88, and her husband Patrick, 76, are suing Boar's Head after she ate contaminated liverwurst, leading to Listeria infection. Hospitalized for nine days in intensive care, she still suffers neurological effects and has not fully recovered. Still, Listeria fears have caused blueberry recalls in the past as well, including one in 2022 for frozen blueberries processed in Oregon. Nobody is reported to have gotten sick. Listeriosis can be mild in otherwise healthy individuals, but deadly in others. In newborns, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems, listeriosis can progress to life-threatening meningitis, a severe brain infection. Between 20 and 30 percent of babies and immunocompromised people who get listeriosis will die, while between 16 and 20 percent of elderly people will die. Symptoms of listeriosis can develop within a few days or even a few weeks after consuming contaminated food. They resemble the flu at first, with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, and fever. If left untreated, the infection can progress to cause symptoms such as a stiff neck, confusion, balance problems, and seizures. In pregnant women, listeria raises the risk of miscarriage, low birth weight, health problems for the newborn, and infant death.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Blueberry recall elevated to highest level due to listeria risk
A blueberry recall has been upgraded to the highest possible level over contamination concerns. Alma Pak International LLC voluntarily recalled 400 boxes, weighing 30 pounds each, of its organic blueberries June 9 because they tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, a disease-causing bacteria, during routine testing, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). On Tuesday, the FDA elevated the blueberry recall to a Class I, the highest risk level. A Class I recall is '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,' as noted by the FDA. The recalled blueberries were shipped to a single customer in North Carolina. The affected product can be identified by the Lot numbers: 13325 G1060 / 13325 G 1096. As noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), listeria is a 'bacteria that can contaminate many foods,' with infections caused by eating food with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. Although symptoms can vary, a listeria infection 'can cause invasive illness and intestinal illness.' Listeria infection is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States, killing roughly 260 people per year. Many food products in the U.S. have been recently recalled due to a listeria risk. 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. The outbreak resulted in three deaths, as well as one fetal loss, and injured 17 people across 13 states, officials said. The ready-made meals were shipped to Walmart and Kroger locations nationwide from FreshRealm establishments in San Clemente, California, Montezuma, Georgia, and Indianapolis, Indiana, according to authorities. Also in June, Bornstein Seafoods Inc issued a recall on 44,550 pounds of its Cooked & Peeled Ready-To-Eat Coldwater Shrimp Meat. This came after a routine sampling detected Listeria monocytogenes in the shrimp. The last two years have also seen an alarming and unexplained rise in recalls. In 2024, approximately 300 food recalls were issued, with those recalls being linked to nearly 1,400 illnesses, a Public Interest Research Group report revealed. Out of the 1,400 illnesses, 487 people became sick enough to require hospitalization, and 19 people died. While those numbers are still low when weighed against the entire U.S. population, they are also double the number of hospitalizations and deaths from foodborne illnesses in 2023.
