Illinois is among seven states facing a Listeria outbreak linked to peaches, plums, and nectarines from HMC Farms, reported by NBC Chicago. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that eleven people have fallen ill, with ten hospitalizations and a fatality in California.
HMC Farms issued a recall for the affected fruits following the outbreak. The fruits, linked by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to the outbreak, were distributed nationwide from May 1, 2022, to November 15, 2023, and were available in retail stores. The CDC warns that the Listeria-contaminated fruits can cause severe infections and pose significant risks for young children, older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and pregnant individuals.
The recall applies solely to conventionally grown fruit, with no recalled organic fruit, according to WGN-TV. The FDA urges consumers to dispose of any such products they may still have, particularly those kept in freezers, despite the fruits no longer being available in stores.
Up to ten products have been implicated in the outbreak according to the FDA, including red and black plums, yellow peaches, and white and yellow nectarines. Some of these were sold individually while others were packaged in two-pound bags under the HMC Farms or Signature Farms brands.
Beyond Illinois, the CDC reports Listeria illnesses have hit California, Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, and Florida too as per the NBC Chicago report. Usually occurring within two weeks of consuming, Listeria infection symptoms can include fever, flu-like symptoms, headache, confusion, and stiffness of the neck.
However, this Listeria outbreak is not linked to the recent Salmonella contamination connected to cantaloupes, explains WGN-TV.
