The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a bacterial outbreak across the US and released a food safety alert on HMC farm products on Tuesday.
HMC farm and signature products such as whole peaches, nectarines, and plums resulted in 11 known illnesses, ten hospitalizations, and one death in the outbreak. CDC reported that the products were sold in the stores between May 1 and November 15 in 2022 and 2023.
CDC Announces Bacterial Outbreak Across US
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 13: Exterior of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) headquarters is seen on October 13, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. Frieden urged hospitals to watch for patients with Ebola symptoms who have traveled from the tree Ebola stricken African countries.
In late October, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted a notice that they had found a listeria in the Kingsburg, California-based HMC Farms sample.
"Although the recalled fruit is no longer available in retail stores, consumers may have frozen the recalled fruit at home for later use. Consumers are urged to check their freezers for the recalled fruit, not consume it, and discard it," the FDA said.
The CDC said that investigators were still investigating to determine if any additional fruit or products made with the fruit were contaminated.
Furthermore, the CDC said to the buyers who collected the fruit that they should throw it out and clean containers, surfaces, and refrigerators that may have come into contact with the fruit.
On November 17, the CDC reported that the outbreak affected seven states: California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, and Ohio. CDC also announced miserable deaths and another sick, pregnant woman who had undergone preterm labor.
A spokesperson for HMC Farms said that their hearts go out to those affected by the outbreak, and they assured they were working with the FDA to investigate the cause of the contamination.
Symptoms of Bacterial Infection
The FDA noted that the symptoms of bacterial infection may take effect after two weeks of eating the contaminated food, but there were chances that it may start earlier the same day.
A person who took contaminated food may experience fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and tiredness. However, a severe form of listeriosis may develop headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, which could take three days to three months to take effect.
Furthermore, babies born with listeriosis could have health complication that requires medical attention, as it may lead to lifelong health issues or even death.
According to the CDC, around 1,600 people in the United States develop listeriosis annually, which results in 260 deaths on average. The ampicillin antibiotics could treat the bacterial infection.
The bacteria has been living in fruit, vegetable, ice cream, and meat products. Earlier this year, more than 400 products sold under several brand names were canceled due to listeria.
The FDA was still investigating another issue of fruit due to salmonella. The FDA reported 43 illnesses linked to pre-cut and whole cantaloupes.
The FDA advised consumers, restaurants, and retailers not to eat, sell, or serve recalled cantaloupe and products containing cantaloupe.
Related Article: Fatal Listeria Widespread Prompts Nationwide Recall of Peaches, Plums, Nectarines
