Frozen fruit sold in PA may be contaminated, voluntary recall says. How to check products

Matt DiSanto
·3 min read

If you’ve recently purchased frozen fruit from a Pennsylvania retailer, you may want to check a recent public health alert to make sure it’s safe to eat.

Sunrise Growers Inc., a fruit processing company, issued through its parent company Wednesday a voluntary recall of several frozen fruit products linked to pineapple provided by a third-party supplier that could be contaminated with listeria. The recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the company said.

The following products distributed in Pennsylvania were included in the company’s announcement:

  • Walmart: 16-ounce packages of Great Value Mixed Fruit, Great Value Dark Sweet Cherries and Great Value Mango Chunks sold between Jan. 19 and June 23.

  • Whole Foods: 365 Organic Tropical Fruit Medley (32 ounces), 365 Organic Pineapple Chunks (10 ounces), 365 Pineapple Chunks (16 ounces), 365 Organic Whole Strawberries (32 ounces), 365 Organic Slice Strawberries and Bananas (32 ounces) and 365 Organic Blackberries (10 ounces) distributed to select U.S. stores between Nov. 1, 2022, and June 21.

  • Trader Joe’s: Trader Joe’s Organic Tropical Fruit Blend (16 ounces) distributed to select distribution centers or stores between March 28 and April 11.

  • Target: Good & Gather Organic Cherries and Berries Fruit Blend (32 ounces), Good & Gather Dark Sweet Whole Pitted Cherries (12 ounces), Good & Gather Mango Strawberry Blend (48 ounces), Good & Gather Mixed Fruit Blend (48 ounces), Good & Gather Mango Chunks (12 ounces), Good & Gather Blueberries (48 ounces) and Good & Gather Triple Berry Blend distributed nationwide between Oct. 14, 2022, and May 22.

  • Aldi: Season’s Choice Tropical Blend (32 ounces) distributed to select distribution centers or stores between October 11, 2022, and May 22.

“To date, there have been no illnesses associated with this voluntary recall,” SunOpta Inc., Sunraise Growers Inc.’s parent company, wrote in a statement.

How to check your products

The voluntary recall of these products may affect items in stores or freezers across the country. While retailers were instructed to remove recalled products from store shelves and inventories, it may be wise to check products to see if they fall within the recall’s scope.

Each product is marked with specific lot codes and “best-by” dates that signal when they were packaged and distributed. These markers are available in detail online.

“Consumers are urged to check their freezers for the recalled product, not to consume it and either discard the product or return it to the store for a full refund,” SunOpta Inc. wrote in a statement. “All other Sunrise Growers products that have different lot codes or best-by dates are not affected by this recall.”

You can contact the company by emailing recall@sunrisegrowers.com or calling 1-888-490-5591 between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

What is Listeria?

The bacteria “listeria monocytogenes” can cause listeriosis, which kills roughly 260 people every year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infections are more likely to sicken pregnant women, newborns, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.

Listeria is present in soil and water and can contaminate fruits, vegetables and animal products, among others. The bacteria can spread between contaminated foods and surfaces and even grow on items kept in refrigerators.

Possible symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, nausea, diarrhea, headache and stiff neck.

According to the CDC, those who eat potentially contaminated food and develop a fever and other listeriosis symptoms should seek medical care. Those who do not develop symptoms are unlikely to require tests or treatment, the agency says.