KCHD Alerts Residents to Recall of Watermelon, Fruit Sold at Walmart
The Kane County Health Department is advising that Country Fresh has recalled watermelon chunks from Walmart stores due to a possible health risk from Listeria monocytogenes detected on equipment used in packing this product.
The Food And Drug Administration added that Country Fresh is extending the voluntary recall issued on Oct. 2 to include various containers of “Freshness Guaranteed” cut and/or sliced apples, grapes, mangos, pineapples and cantaloupe distributed by Walmart.
The recall is a precautionary measure due to a possible health risk from Listeria monocytogenes detected on equipment used in an area near where these products are packed. FDA discovered these findings during a recent inspection.
Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
The recall affects product codes of watermelon items shipped directly to Walmart and RaceTrac’s retail distribution centers stores in select stores located in Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Texas.
The product was packaged in a variety of clam-shell containers. (Click this link to see photos.) The best-if-used by dates of Oct. 2, 3, and 4, 2020 and the SKUs are as follows:
Original Recall Lots
- Watermelon 32oz, Lot URR0103, Use By 10/2/20
- Watermelon 32oz, Lot URE0103, Use By 10/3/20
- Watermelon 42oz, Lot URR0103, Use By 10/2/20
- Watermelon 42oz, Lot URE0103, Use By 10/3/20
- Watermelon 16oz, Lot URR0103, Use By 10/2/20
- Watermelon 16oz, Lot URS0103, Use By 10/4/20
- Watermelon 10oz, Lot URR0103, Use By 10/2/20
- Watermelon 10oz, Lot URE0103, Use By 10/3/20
- Watermelon 10oz, Lot URS0103, Use By 10/4/2
- Watermelon 5.5oz, Lot URE0103, Use By 10/4/20
- Summer Blend 5oz, Lot URR0103, Use By 10/2/20
- Summer Blend 5oz, Lot URE0103, Use By 10/3/20
- Summer Blend 5oz, Lot URS0103, Use By 10/4/20
- Melon Trio 5.5oz, Lot URE0103, Use By 10/4/20
Expanded Recall
| UPC | Item Description | Best if used by: | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 68113118012 | APPLE GRAPE TRAY w/ CARMEL 2 lbs 10oz | 10/7/2020 | 10/8/2020 | – |
| 68113118006 | GREEN APPLE SLICES 32oz | 10/8/2020 | 10/9/2020 | 10/10/2020 |
| 68113118007 | MIXED APPLE SLICES 32oz | 10/8/2020 | 10/9/2020 | 10/10/2020 |
| 68113118004 | RED APPLE SLICES 14oz | 10/10/2020 | 10/11/2020 | – |
| 68113118010 | RED APPLE SLICES 32oz | 10/8/2020 | 10/9/2020 | – |
| 68113118014 | CANTALOUPE CHUNKS 10oz | 10/3/2020 | 10/4/2020 | 10/5/2020 |
| 68113118015 | CANTALOUPE CHUNKS 16oz | 10/3/2020 | 10/4/2020 | 10/5/2020 |
| 68113118023 | SEASONAL FRUIT TRAY 40oz | 10/3/2020 | 10/4/2020 | – |
| 68113135509 | SUMMER BLEND 5oz | 10/3/2020 | 10/4/2020 | – |
| 68113135510 | TROPICAL BLEND 5oz | 10/3/2020 | 10/4/2020 | – |
| 68113118037 | MANGO CHUNK 10oz | 10/3/2020 | 10/4/2020 | – |
| 68113118038 | MANGO SPEARS 16oz | 10/4/2020 | – | – |
| 68113118039 | PINEAPPLE GRAPE MANGO BLEND 16oz | 10/3/2020 | 10/4/2020 | 10/5/2020 |
| 68113118042 | PINEAPPLE CHUNKS 10oz | 10/3/2020 | – | – |
| 68113118046 | PINEAPPLE CHUNKS 16oz | 10/4/2020 | – | – |
| 68113118043 | PINEAPPLE CHUNKS 42oz | 10/10/2020 | 10/11/2020 | – |
| 68113118044 | PINEAPPLE SPEARS 32oz | 10/5/2020 | – | – |
| 68113118047 | RED GRAPES 10oz | 10/4/2020 | – | – |
| 68113118048 | SEASONAL BLEND 10oz | 10/3/2020 | 10/4/2020 | – |
| 68113118049 | SEASONAL BLEND 16oz | 10/3/2020 | 10/4/2020 | 10/5/2020 |
| 68113118050 | SEASONAL BLEND 32oz | 10/5/2020 | – | – |
| 68113118069 | SEASONAL TRIO 32oz | 10/3/2020 | 10/4/2020 | 10/5/2020 |
Country Fresh has not received any reports of illnesses to date associated with these recalled items.
The recalled products were distributed from 9/23/2020 – 9/25/2020. RaceTrac and Walmart retail stores are removing the recalled product from store shelves and inventories immediately.
Customers with recalled watermelon should discard it immediately and not consume it.
For more information, click this link to the FDA website.
The Kane County Health Department has an abundance of information about food safety online at KaneHealth.com/Pages/Food-Safety.aspx.
SOURCE: Kane County Health Department, FDA news releases
