Earlier this summer, Alma Pak International, LLC., voluntarily recalled 400 boxes—that's about 12,000 pounds—of organic blueberries due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. As of July 1, that recall has escalated to a Class I risk, meaning that consumption of the contaminated products has a reasonable probability of causing "serious adverse health consequences or death," according to the FDA.
The affected products were packed in 30-pound boxes and contained the lot numbers 13325 G1060 and 13325 G1096. While the recall is no doubt concerning, the company assured the public that all of the affected products were recovered before reaching the retail market—they were only shipped to one customer in North Carolina, so there's little to no likelihood you'll have the affected blueberries in your home.
Listeria can cause serious illness, especially in pregnant women, newborns, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, headache, confusion, and, in severe cases, complications like meningitis or miscarriage. No illnesses have been reported connected to this recall.
Alma Pak International stated that they have since implemented "additional corrective actions and preventive controls to further strengthen its already rigorous food safety systems."
