FDA escalates organic blueberry recall to highest level over listeria risk

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has escalated a recall of organic blueberries by Alma Pak International LLC to its highest risk category following positive tests for Listeria monocytogenes, a dangerous bacterium that can cause serious illness or death.

Alma Pak initiated the recall on 9 June after routine testing detected listeria in 400 boxes of 30-pound blueberries. On Tuesday, the FDA elevated it to a Class I recall, the most severe level.

According to the FDA, a Class I recall means “there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”

Alma Pak shipped the affected blueberries to a single customer in North Carolina, but whether they were redistributed further remains unclear. The affected lot numbers are 13325 G1060 and 13325 G1096.

The FDA confirmed:

During routine testing the firm received positive test results of Listeria monocytogenes on their finished product.”

The FDA’s announcement comes amid a surge in food recalls linked to listeria contamination in the US food supply. Notably, last month FreshRealm voluntarily recalled its ready-to-eat chicken fettuccine Alfredo meals nationwide after a listeria outbreak caused 17 illnesses, including three deaths and one foetal loss across 13 states.

Listeria symptoms and risk

Listeria is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the US, causing around 260 fatalities annually. It was also the second leading cause of food recalls in 2024, accounting for nearly 15 percent of recall events, surpassed only by labelling errors.

Listeria monocytogenes poses significant health risks, particularly to vulnerable groups such as the elderly, young children, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems.

Listeriosis, the infection caused by listeria, can produce severe symptoms including fever, headache, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. In pregnant women, the infection can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or life-threatening infections in newborns.

Advice for consumers with recalled products

Food safety experts warn that listeria can survive and spread in refrigerated environments, making thorough cleaning of refrigerators, containers and surfaces essential if recalled products have been stored.

Consumers should not eat recalled foods. Instead, they should either throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.

Consumers should call a healthcare provider immediately if they develop symptoms after eating recalled foods. People in higher-risk groups who experience flu-like symptoms within two months of consuming potentially contaminated food should seek prompt medical attention and inform their healthcare provider about the suspected exposure.