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- Oregon Potato Company is recalling 55,689 pounds of IQF blueberries produced by Willamette Valley Fruit Company due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination, and the FDA has classified it as a Class I recall.
- The blueberries were sold in 30-pound cases and 1,400-pound totes and distributed to Michigan, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, and Canada, but were not sold directly to consumers at retail stores.
- Listeria monocytogenes can survive and grow under refrigeration and may cause mild symptoms in healthy individuals but can lead to miscarriages, stillbirths, or severe and sometimes fatal infections in vulnerable populations. Anyone experiencing symptoms is advised to consult a health care provider.
Oregon Potato Company of Salem, Oregon, is recalling 55,689 pounds of "Individually Quick Frozen" (IQF) blueberries, produced by the Willamette Valley Fruit Company, due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The fruit was sold in 30-pound corrugated cases and 1,400-pound totes. Per the FDA, the blueberries were not sold directly to consumers from retail stores but were distributed to Michigan, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin, as well as Canada. Oregon Potato Company distributes products to foodservice, retail, industrial, and international businesses.
The lot codes and corresponding expiration dates on the 30-pound cases are 2055 B2 and 7/23/2027, 2065 B1 and 7/24/2027, and 2065 B3 and 7/24/2027, while the lot codes and dates on the 1,400-pound totes are 3305 A1 and 11/25/2027 and 3305 B1 and 11/25/2027.
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The FDA marked the recall as Class I, meaning that there's a "reasonable probability" that the product "will cause serious adverse health consequences or death." It's unclear whether the blueberries have caused any illnesses.
Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that’s often found in soil, water, or food‑processing environments, can survive and grow under refrigeration, the FDA says.
Healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as a high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea from a Listeria infection; however, it may cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women, the FDA reports. It can also cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, older adults, and others with weakened immune systems. If you're experiencing symptoms, consult your health care provider.
