Walmart and Kroger Pull Produce from Shelves as Outbreak Scare Triggers Nationwide Recall

Clear Facts

• A recall of 27 types of produce has been issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes. The products were sold at Walmart and Kroger stores.
• The recall, which began on July 12, has since expanded to include pre-packaged and pound-sold produce. The producer, Wiers Farm Inc., stated the recall is “out of an abundance of caution”.
• The recalled produce is linked to Wiers Farm Inc. of Ohio, which is currently conducting an investigation in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Agriculture. The company has issued a statement expressing commitment to resolving the situation.

Amid the abundance of summer produce, a serious health alert has been issued. The FDA has announced a recall of 27 different kinds of produce sold at Walmart and Kroger due to a potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

The recall was initially posted on July 12 and has since been expanded to include whole cucumbers, bagged salad cucumber products, pre-packaged produce, and vegetables sold by the pound. Wiers Farm Inc. of Willard, Ohio, initiated this recall “out of an abundance of caution,” according to a company release.

“Wiers Farm Inc. is committed to implementing all measures necessary to fully resolve this situation,” reads the company’s statement.

Wiers Farm not only sells its own name-brand bagged produce at Walmart and Aldi locations nationwide, but also handles and distributes bulk produce sold individually or by the pound at a variety of stores. Nearly 20 states, predominantly in the Midwest and Eastern regions, have been affected by the recall.

The potential Listeria outbreak prompted an investigation by Wiers Farm in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), following initial reports filed by the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDARD).

Listeria is a serious foodborne disease that “can be fatal” to unborn babies, newborns, and immunocompromised people, cautions the Mayo Clinic. However, even healthy people are not exempt from the risk. Common symptoms of Listeria include fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea, and diarrhea, which typically appear a few days after exposure.

To date, there have been no reported illnesses in connection with this recall.

The recall includes Wiers Farms’ name-brand bagged produce sold at select Walmart stores in 13 states. Customers can verify whether their produce is impacted by the recall by noting the Universal Product Code (UPC). A total of nine Wiers Farm products were affected, including Bagged Poblano, Bagged Cubanelle, Bagged Green Beans, Bagged Salad Cucumber, Bagged Serrano, and several types of organic vegetables.

Additionally, select Freshire Farms products sold at Aldi stores in five states have also been recalled. This includes a wide range of produce such as peppers, cucumbers, green beans, and mixed vegetable boxes.

All products involved in the expanded recall were packaged between July 5 and July 12, 2024. Customers can reference the FDA notice for specific stores and state information.

Customers are urged to discard any potentially contaminated packages. For further questions, Wiers Farms can be reached at (419) 933-2161 or via email at [email protected].

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