On July 1, the FDA upgraded its recall of Alma Pak organic blueberries to Class I—the highest alert—after Listeria monocytogenes was detected during routine testing. The June 9 voluntary recall involves 400 boxes sent to North Carolina. Consumers should check lot 13325 G1060/1096 and discard the berries.
Listeria infection, also known as listeriosis, is caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. While consuming food contaminated with listeria isn't usually serious for most healthy people, it can lead to serious illness, especially for pregnant individuals and those with weakened immune systems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), listeria is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the US, killing about 260 people a year.
Click on to learn more about this infection and how to prevent it.