12,000 Pounds of Tainted Fruit Issued Highest Recall Alert by FDA

Listeria monocytogenes led Alma Pak of Alma, Georgia to recall 400 30-pound boxes of organic blueberries.

Published: 7/3/2025, 11:55:31 AM EDT

12,000 Pounds of Tainted Fruit Issued Highest Recall Alert by FDA — Blueberries. (Unsplash)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a high alert this week about last month’s voluntary recall of 12,000 pounds of organic blueberries due to bacterial contamination.

An FDA enforcement report states that Listeria monocytogenes led Alma Pak International LLC of Alma, Georgia, to recall 400 30,000-pound boxes of organic blueberries.

“During routine testing the firm received positive test results of Listeria monocytogenes on their finished product,” the FDA said.

The recall was initially announced on June 9.

Although North Carolina is the only state that received a shipment of the tainted fruit, the FDA slapped the 30-pound box recall with a Class 1 label on July 1.

A Class 1 event is the FDA’s highest risk alert and is described on the FDA website as having a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.

A Class 2 recall is for products that might cause temporary or reversible health issues, but where the risk of serious harm is lower and Class 3 recalls involve products that violate regulations but are unlikely to cause health problems, such as minor labeling errors, according to Northeastern University professor, food safety expert, and Alliance for Recall Ready Communities adviser Darin Detwiler.

"A recall is not necessarily a sign of negligence or failure on the part of the food company," Detwiler told NTD. "In many cases, it actually reflects that the company has effective food safety and quality systems in place—systems capable of detecting a problem and taking responsible action to protect consumers."

Listeria monocytogenes is a disease-causing bacterium that can be found in many places, including soil, water, sewage, rotting vegetation, and animals, according to the FDA website.

“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 FDA said.

Lots in question include 13325 G1060 and 13325 G1096.

This isn’t the first time an Alma Pak fruit has been recalled.

In 2019, an FDA announcement stated that Alma Pak’s frozen blueberries and frozen mixed berries were recalled due to the potential of being contaminated with Norovirus.

Because Norovirus is a highly contagious virus, eating produce contaminated with Norovirus may cause acute onset of symptoms of gastroenteritis, including severe nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, according to the FDA.

Less common symptoms of Norovirus infection include low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue.