FDA Notice: Frozen Fruit Recall Hits Walmart, Target

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in White Oak, Md., on June 5, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

Frozen fruit from sliced strawberries to mango cubes sold at Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, Aldi, and Trader Joe’s are being recalled for a possible bacterial contamination, according to a notice posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), announcing an expansion of a previous recall.

The FDA-backed notice that SunOpta Inc.’s subsidiary, Sunrise Growers Inc., issued a voluntary recall of  “specific frozen fruit products linked to pineapple provided by a third-party supplier,” impacting a number of different products sold at the aforementioned retailers.

Retailers and Products Affected

For Walmart, the recall impacts 16-ounce bags of Great Value Mixed Fruit, 16-ounce bags of Great Value Dark Sweet Cherries, and 16-ounce bags of Great Value Mango Chunks.

For Whole Foods, it includes 32-ounce bags of 365 Organic Tropical Fruit Medley, 10-ounce bags of 365 Organic Pineapple Chunks, 16-ounce bags of 365 Pineapple Chunks, 32-ounce bags of 365 Organic Whole Strawberries, 32-ounce bags of 365 Organic Sliced Strawberries and Bananas, and 10-ounce bags of 365 Organic Blackberries.

For Trader Joe’s, the recall targets Trader Joe’s Organic Tropical Fruit Blend 16-ounce bags with “best by” dates of late January and early February 2024.

For Target, it includes 32-ounce bags of Good & Gather Organic Cherries and Berries Fruit Blend, 12-ounce bags of Good & Gather Dark Sweet Whole Pitted Cherries, 48-ounce bags of Good & Gather Mango Strawberry Blend, 48-ounce bags of Good & Gather Mixed Fruit Blend, 12-ounce bags of Good & Gather Mango Chunks, 48-ounce bags of Good & Gather Blueberries, and 48-ounce bags of Good & Gather Triple Berry Blend.

And for Aldi, it includes 32-ounce bags of Season’s Choice Tropical Blend and Mixed Fruit with “best by” dates from October 2024 to February 2025. And the recall also includes Best Choice brand Pitted Red Tart Cherries distributed by Associated Wholesale Grocers distribution centers and stores in four states are also part of the recall.

The Third Frozen Fruit Recall Since June

Listeria monocytogenes, officials say, is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, elderly people, and others with compromised 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,” the notice said. “Any consumers concerned about an illness should contact a physician.”

It’s the third recall for frozen fruit in June, according to FDA notices. Frozen strawberries sold by Oregon-based Willamette Valley Fruit Co. sold at Costco, HEB, and Walmart were recalled several weeks ago, linked to a hepatitis A outbreak.

And days before that, the Organic DayBreak Blend from California-based Wawona Frozen Foods sold at Costco issued a voluntary recall due to a possible hepatitis A contamination for strawberries growing in Mexico.