The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a recall alert for frozen blueberries due to potential Listeria contamination, which were distributed across various states in the U.S. Oregon Potato Company based in Salem, Oregon, is voluntarily recalling 25,260 kilograms of “Individually Quick Frozen” (IQF) blueberries following concerns of Listeria monocytogenes presence, as stated by the FDA.
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause listeriosis, a rare yet severe illness characterized by sudden symptoms like vomiting, nausea, cramps, severe headache, constipation, or fever. The affected blueberries were not directly sold to consumers in retail outlets but were distributed in Michigan, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin. The exact retail locations where the blueberries were sold have not been disclosed by the FDA.
While the FDA mentioned that the products were also distributed in Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reported that there has been no recall issued in Canada. CFIA officials confirmed that the imported products subject to the U.S. recall were securely stored at the importer’s warehouse and did not reach any retailers or consumers in Canada, ensuring there is no risk to Canadian consumers.
The contaminated blueberries are typically packaged in a polyethylene bag within a corrugated case or a polyethylene liner within a tote, according to the FDA. The recall notice was initially published on the FDA’s website on February 12 and was later upgraded to a “Class I” recall on February 24. A Class I recall indicates a significant risk where the use of the product may lead to severe health consequences or even death, particularly dangerous for newborns and older individuals, as listeriosis can result in brain inflammation, blood infections, or fatalities.