Potatoes, Lemons, Limes, and Oranges Recalled in Several States Over Potential Listeria Contamination

If you’ve already tossed your onions over salmonella concerns, then you’ve been doing a good job on keeping up with the latest dangerous produce recalls. But now there’s more: CNN reports there’s a problem with citrus fruits and potatoes around the country. The latest recall comes from a North Carolina company called Freshouse, and involves potential listeria contamination on packing equipment in one of their warehouses.

Rather than wait for anybody to potentially get sick from the oranges, lemons, limes, and red potatoes that might have come in contact with the dangerous pathogen, the company is doing a voluntary recall on the products, which had been shipped to distributors and wholesalers in North and South Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. The brands and products specifically affected by this recall include Freshouse limes, Nature’s Promise Organic limes, red potatoes and lemons under the Fresh from the Start brand, and lemons and California Valencia oranges sold as the Wegman’s house brand.

There have not yet been any reported illnesses from these products, and it’s not clear that any had even made it through the distribution chain to the consumer level yet, but it’s always good to keep an eye out just to make sure you don’t spend your money on fruit or vegetables that you’ll later learn you can’t eat. In most people, listeria causes high fevers, diarrhea, headaches, and more uncomfortable symptoms for a short period of time, but it can be quite dangerous for vulnerable populations, including the young, old, and those with weaker immune systems. It also has extremely dangerous fetal outcomes, so pregnant people should be particularly careful.

“We voluntarily issued this recall out of an abundance of caution with the steadfast intent to minimize even the slightest risk to public health,” said Jamey Friedman, the president of the company. “We take food safety and this recall seriously. Freshouse is committed to providing consumers with fresh, nutritious, safe products.”