Not long after a listeria outbreak linked to deli meats was announced in mid-July 2024, another listeria contamination concern was reported by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Walmart and Aldi listeria recall is fairly widespread and involves a number of summer vegetables and herbs.
Wiers Farm Recall
According to the FDA, “Wiers Farm Inc. of Willard, OH, is expanding its July 12, 2024, recall to include additional produce because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes,” as of July 22, 2024. Wiers Farm stated in the FDA recall that its investigation into these vegetables came after reports from the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDARD).
Although the agency noted there have been no illnesses or consumer complaints reported thanks to this contamination, many products at Walmart and Aldi are impacted, and the recall has been implemented “out of an abundance of caution.”
What Vegetables Are Included in the Listeria Recall?
The original recall was for a limited number of cucumbers and bagged salad cucumbers. However, it has now been expanded to include packaged items such as poblanos, cubanelles, green beans, organic bell peppers, serranos, jalapenos, and squash.
According to the FDA, the following are bulk items sold individually or by the pound that are affected by this recall:
- Anaheim peppers
- Cilantro – sold in bunches
- Cubanelle peppers
- Cucumber – whole
- Green beans
- Green Bell Pepper
- Habanero peppers
- Hungarian Wax peppers
- Jalapeno peppers
- Mixed Vegetable Box (shipped to Cleveland and Youngstown, Ohio Foodbanks only)
- Mustard Greens – sold in bunches
- Pickling Cucumber
- Plain Parsley – sold in bunches
- Poblano peppers
- Serrano peppers
- Tomatillos
For the full list of products, please see the FDA announcement.
Which States Are Included in the Walmart and Aldi Listeria Recall?
The affected produce was sold at select Walmart stores in 15 states:
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Products impacted by the recall were also sold at Aldi stores in:
- Kentucky
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
The FDA reported that distribution for bulk items sold individually or by the pound also includes stores besides Walmart and Aldi. Some other stores impacted include Save-a-Lot, Kroger, Shop N Save, Shoppers Value, Foodland, and more.
Products involved in this recall were packed between July 5-12, the recall notice revealed.
Discard or Return Products ASAP
In a news release, ALDI said, “ALDI puts the safety and integrity of the products it sells first. If customers have products affected by this recall, they are advised to discard it immediately or return it to their local store for a full refund.”
Meanwhile, a Walmart spokesperson told NBC News on Friday the contaminated products have been removed from stores and the company is “working with the supplier to investigate the cause.”
“The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority,” the spokesperson expressed.
This recall comes after a listeria outbreak connected to deli meats, which has affected 34 people across the country. That outbreak has now resulted in 33 hospitalizations and two fatalities across 13 states, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on July 26.
Phillips Law Group Food Poisoning Attorneys
If you suspect you’ve fallen ill due to listeria contamination in a product you bought recently at the grocery store, contact your healthcare provider and your local or state health department without delay. Make sure to document as much information as possible about what you ate, where, and when.
If you or a loved one has been exposed to listeria in food, either from this outbreak or another source, consider consulting a food poisoning attorney like the attorneys at Phillips Law Group. You have legal rights regarding food safety and may be eligible to file a claim for compensation if you or a loved one contracted Listeriosis from a contaminated food product.
Call our firm today at 602-222-2222 to learn more.
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