Public health authorities have issued a recall for 12-ounce bags of Marketside Broccoli Florets after potential listeria contamination was discovered. The product, sold at Walmart stores in 20 states, including Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, is advised to be discarded by consumers immediately. According to a notice from the Food and Drug Administration, the affected broccoli florets have a "best if used by" date of December 10, 2024, indicating the purchase window for shoppers to take note of.
The alarm was raised after a random sampling conducted by Texas Health & Human Services in a Texas store led to the discovery of bacterial contamination. No reported cases of illness have been linked to the broccoli thus far. Listeria monocytogenes, the organism uncovered, can be especially harmful to vulnerable populations, causing serious and potentially fatal infections. Pregnant women are also at risk for miscarriages and stillbirths due to the infection. Consumers who have stored the product for later use, despite the best-if-used-by date having passed, should dispose of it. "The potential for contamination was discovered during random sampling by Texas Health & Human Services from a Texas store location where one of multiple samples yielded a positive test result," Braga stated in its recall notice obtained by CBS News.
This listeria scare comes on the heels of another recall involving organic vegetable medleys and organic whole carrots also sold at Walmart due to potential E. coli contamination. Bags of vegetables under the brands Wild Harvest, Marketside, 4Earth Farms, and Grimmway Farms were implicated in that previous recall. Similar to listeria, E. coli can cause serious health issues, particularly in young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.
Shoppers who have purchased the recalled Marketside Broccoli Florets can identify the product by the UPC 6 81131 32884 5 on the back and lot code BFFG327A6 on the front of the bag. The FDA and Braga Fresh have urged consumers in possession of the recalled item to not consume it but instead throw it away. For any queries, Braga can be reached at 877-456-7445 during business hours or by email at [email protected], according to the company's outreach efforts. By staying informed and acting swiftly, consumers can assist in ensuring food safety and public health.
