Recalled Apple Slices with Listeria in Florida School District

Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections.

Florida’s Palm Beach County School District was notified on Sept. 9 of a apple slices recall due to Listeria monocytogenes and individual schools were notified that morning. Also according to this customer, 360 cases of the 400 cases that it picked up at the Appealing Fruit facility on Sept. 2 have been retrieved and destroyed, and more cases are in the process of being returned.

For this reason, the company stated that is unclear exactly how much of the remaining 40 cases may have been distributed in the Florida Palm Beach County School District and was trying to make sure that parents were aware of the recall.

Parents of children in Florida’s Palm Beach County School District: Snack Fresh brand is common in Florida schools. The recalled 2-oz. bagged Snack Fresh product with Listeria were identified. They have three sets of numbers on the back of the Snack Fresh bag: 1) the Best-if-Used-by date is 09/21/15, 2) the UPC code under the black bars is 74641 00982, and 3) the production date, or first 6 numbers under the “Product of USA” stamp, is 310815.

All three sets of numbers on the 2-oz. Snack Fresh bag must match these in order to identify the recalled product.

Anyone who has recalled product in their possession should not consume it and should dispose of it properly, the company stated. Consumers with questions may contact the company’s consumer information desk at 1-866-873-0468, or visit its website.

Appeeling Fruit was not informed to date about any illnesses linked to this recall, according to the statement, and was unaware of any other recalled products distributed to schools. A complete list of products recalled on Sept. 9 can be found at the web site.

The recall start after the company was informed that an environmental sample taken in the production facility as part of an internal routine sampling program tested positive for the Listeria. Subsequent test results from the facility have been negative. 
Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. 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.
Source: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm462542.htm