Health authorities in the US have urgently recalled 400 boxes of blueberries feared to be contaminated with bacteria that can cause vomiting, fever and diarrhoea. Some 12,000lbs of organic blueberries made by Alma Pak International are affected, after routine testing by the firm tested positive for listeria.
The recall is considered Class 1, the most serious category, which indicates there is a probability that exposure to the product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death. Listeria can enter the body through the digestive tract and then spread to other organs, causing inflammation throughout the body as the immune system responds. Common symptoms include fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, and aches and pains.
They are usually mild, but they can lead to more serious illnesses in those who are particularly vulnerable, including babies, the elderly, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems.
In severe cases, listeria poisoning can lead to life-threatening complications such as meningitis and sepsis.
The affected blueberries were said to have even been shipped to a single customer in North Carolina, but the FDA did not specify whether that customer had distributed them.
A similar recall was issued in the UK this week for scotch eggs feared to be contaminated with salmonella bacteria.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recently warned that cases of salmonella and campylobacter infections had reached a decade-high in England.
Some 70,300 people were affected by campylobacter and 10,300 by salmonella poisoning in 2024.
Dr Gauri Godbole, deputy director for gastrointestinal infections at UKHSA said: ”These infections spread in many ways, including through contaminated food or water, contact with an infected person as well as contact with an infected animal or their environment.
“Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water, particularly after using the toilet or handling raw meat, before meals and after contact with animals or farms can prevent infections.
“Additionally, anyone experiencing diarrhoea or vomiting should avoid handling or preparing food for others. Don’t return to work, and children should not attend school or nursery, until at least 48 hours after symptoms have subsided.”