Fruity Fiasco: Recall Triggered as Listeria Outbreak Hits Fruit Supply

In a surprising twist, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) decided to play food detective and issued a Monday memo about a listeria outbreak that’s causing more drama than a reality TV show. It turns out that your innocent-looking peaches, nectarines, and plums might be harboring more than just natural sweetness.

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Fruity Drama Unfolds: 10 Hospitalizations and 1 Death Steal the Spotlight

The CDC dropped the bomb that these troublemaking fruits, labeled under the notorious names “HMC Farms” or “Signature Farms,” are the culprits behind ten hospitalizations and even one unfortunate soul meeting their fruity demise. It’s like a fruit conspiracy theory, but unfortunately, it’s not a theory.

Fruit Fiasco Branding: HMC Farms and Signature Farms in the Hot Seat

Hold on to your fruit baskets, because the brand names HMC Farms and Signature Farms are making headlines for all the wrong reasons. If your fruit haul between May 1 and Nov. 15, 2022, or the same dates in 2023, has a sticker with the cryptic “USA-E-U,”

you might be in for a not-so-tasty surprise. Check for numbers 4044 or 4038 for yellow peach, 4401 for white peach, 4036 or 4378 for yellow nectarine, 3035 for white nectarine, 4042 for red plum, and 4040 for black plum. It’s like solving a fruity Sudoku puzzle, but with higher stakes.

Fruit Recall Alert: Not So Organic After All

HMC Group Marketing decided to play the hero—or maybe it’s more of an anti-hero—by voluntarily recalling their fruit, excluding the organic ones. So, if you thought going organic was the safe route, think again. The fruits were sold in two-pound bags, so if your fruit stash matches this description, it’s time to part ways.

CDC Plays Detective: Investigation Underway

The CDC, donning its metaphorical detective hat, is currently playing Sherlock Holmes to figure out if any more fruit or fruit-related products are secretly contaminated. It’s like a fruity whodunit, with investigators peeling back the layers to expose the truth.

Listeria: The Sneaky Culprit That’s No Joke

Listeria infection isn’t your run-of-the-mill stomach bug. It’s the villain that likes to break free from your gut and wreak havoc elsewhere. Pregnant people, the wise elders aged 65 or more, and those with immune systems on the weaker side, beware—Listeria might be plotting its invasion.

Symptoms Galore: Fever, Aches, and Tiredness, Oh My!

If you’ve had the misfortune of catching the listeria bug, expect a grand entrance of symptoms, including fever, muscle aches, and a tiredness that rivals a Monday morning after a long weekend. These symptoms can crash the party anywhere from two weeks to a whopping 10 weeks after your fruity encounter. It’s like the fruit is pulling a surprise party, but you’re definitely not in the mood to celebrate.

Fruit Ghosts Lingering in Your Freezer? CDC Says Clean House!

Even though these troublemaker fruits have been kicked out of stores, they might still be lurking in your freezer like unwanted guests who refuse to leave a party. The CDC suggests a freezer raid: check, discard, or return any fruits that fit the shady criteria. And don’t stop there—clean everything these fruits touched, because you never know where they’ve left their mark.

HMC Group Marketing’s Apology: “We Swear Our Fruits Are Usually Drama-Free”

In an attempt to salvage their fruity reputation, HMC Group Marketing’s spokesperson, Amy Philpott, reassures us that safety is their top priority. “There is nothing more important to us than providing safe, high-quality fruit to consumers. We never want anyone to become ill from eating fresh fruit, and our hearts go out to those affected by the outbreak,” she said. They’re working tirelessly with the FDA to solve the fruity mystery and get back to delivering drama-free fruits to your fruit bowl.