Company of Cutler, CA, is adding fruit produced on five additional days to the recall of whole white and yellow peaches, white and yellow nectarines, plums and pluots.The company originally recalled fruit packed between June 1 and July 12, 2014, for possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The expanded recall now extends that period of time five additional days to July 17, 2014, according to spokeswoman Amy Philpott.
“To date, health officials have not informed Wawona of any confirmed cases of illnesses linked with this recall,” she said. “Wawona is working with food safety officials and investigators regarding all claims.”
Philpott says that Wawona expanded the recall “out of an abundance of caution” through July 17, the last day before operations were suspended at the facility because of the ongoing investigation into the source of the Listeria in the building.
Beginning on July 18, 2014, no products have been packed at the Wawona Packing facility in Cutler, CA. Products packed on or after July 18 outside of the Wawona Packing Co. facility are not affected by this recall.
Fruit contaminated with Listeria can cause serious illness and even death, with children, the elderly and anyone with a compromised immune system especially at risk. Symptoms include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
The recalled products were sold under the following brands : Sweet 2 Eat, Sweet 2 Eat Organic and Mrs. Smittcamp’s, and are also packed under private labels. These brands will be on the boxes or on the stickers placed on individual fruit.
Anyone who has the recalled products in their possession should not consume them and should discard them. If consumers are seeking reimbursement, they should return to the store where they purchased the product to request a refund, providing proof of purchase or receipt if available.
Product photos can be found on the company’s website at www.wawonapacking.com.
Wawona shipped the recalled products directly to retailers and wholesalers who resell or further distribute the products. Because the company does not know the locations of the distributors or stores that received the products from its direct customers, the company is issuing a nationwide recall.
The July 19 recall was initiated based on internal company testing. The company shut down the packing lines, retrofitted equipment, sanitized the facility, and is working with experts on Listeria in making further improvements to the food safety program. The packing lines in the Cutler facility will not reopen until Wawona can be certain they are safe.
“Wawona Packing believes in the highest standards of food safety. We have been working around the clock to determine the source of the Listeria monocytogenes. We have brought in nationally known experts in food safety to investigate every part of our packing facility, and we are working with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration,” said company president Brent Smittcamp.
