January 1, Major Produce Recall at Walmart and Kroger

As the summer season rolls in with its bounty of fresh vegetables and enticing produce, you might want to keep an eye on your shopping cart. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently announced a recall of 27 different types of produce sold by retail giants Walmart and Kroger due to a potential contamination by Listeria monocytogenes.

Voluntarily initiated on July 12, the recall has grown beyond simple cucumbers and bagged salad cucumber products to include pre-packaged produce and vegetables sold by weight. In a press release, Wiers Farm Inc., of Willard, Ohio, stated this was done “out of an abundance of caution.”

Wiers Farm distributes its name-brand bagged produce at various Walmart and Aldi locations across the nation. Moreover, the company is responsible for the handling and distribution of bulk produce sold at Kroger, Save-A-Lot, and Shop N Save, either individually or by weight. Almost 20 states, mostly in the Midwest and Eastern regions, have been impacted by the recall.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture was the first to file initial reports, prompting Wiers Farm to launch an investigation. The company is working closely with the Ohio Department of Agriculture to address this potential Listeria outbreak.

Listeria is a severe foodborne illness that can be fatal, especially to unborn babies, newborns, and individuals with compromised immune systems. While people over 65, pregnant individuals, those living with diabetes or kidney disease are the most susceptible to Listeria, healthy individuals can also contract the disease.

Symptoms of Listeria infection usually surface within a few days of exposure and include fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea, and diarrhea. If the infection spreads to the nervous system, it can cause confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. Medical attention is advised if you’re at high risk or your symptoms are escalating.

At the time of reporting, no instances of illness have been reported in connection to this recall.

Customers can identify if their purchased produce is implicated in the recall by checking the Universal Product Code (UPC). Wiers Farms’ bagged produce was sold at select Walmart stores in numerous states including Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Apart from this, 16-ounce Freshire Farms Bagged Green Beans and 8-ounce Freshire Farms Bagged Jalapeños sold at Aldi stores in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia are also part of the recall.

The recall also extends to bulk produce handled by Wiers Farms and sold at Kroger, Save-A-Lot, and Shop N Save. The list includes a variety of vegetables, from peppers to green beans, cucumbers, and more.

According to the FDA, all products involved in this recall were packed between July 5 and July 12, 2024. Customers are advised to dispose of any possibly contaminated packages. For any queries, Wiers Farms can be reached at (419) 933-2161 or via email at [email protected].

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