Pennsylvania-based Appeeling Fruit has issued a voluntary recall of a few of its packed fresh sliced apples over concerns of potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
The recalled products include 12oz package with fresh, green apple slices; 12oz. package with fresh, red apple slices; convenience pack of 8, and 2oz. sized bags of fresh, red apple slices.
The recalled products were shipped to retail distribution centers, wholesalers, and foodservice customers in the states of Florida, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania between 31 August and 2 September.
Appeeling Fruit has already directed the retailers to remove the recalled items from their stores and has urged them to notify the end users of the recall.
The products carry 'Best-if-Used-by' dates of 09/14/15 and 09/21/15.
The UPC codes are 8324 00950, 58324 00900, 58324 08400, 58324 00400 and 74641 00982.
Customers who have purchased the recalled products have been advised to either discard the product or return it to the place from where they purchased it for a refund.
The voluntary recall began after the company was informed that an environmental sample taken in the production facility as part of a routine sampling program tested positive with bacteria.
Though none of the final products tested positive, and the test results conducted thereafter at the facility have been negative, the company did not want to take risks and initiated a voluntary recall.
People affected with Listeria may suffer from high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
