Braga Fresh, based in Soledad, California, USA, has issued a voluntary recall notice for a single batch of prewashed ready-to-eat Marketside Broccoli Florets that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The “best if used by” date for this product is December 10, 2024. Listeria monocytogenes is a type of bacteria that can cause severe or even fatal infections, particularly affecting infants, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems.
According to the announcement released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday, December 31, infection can lead to symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, stiff neck, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. In pregnant women, the infection can also result in miscarriage and fetal death.
The contaminated broccoli florets are no longer available for purchase in stores as they have exceeded their “best if used by” date. Consumers who have previously purchased this product and stored it in their refrigerators should discard it. Surfaces and utensils that have come into contact with the product should also be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
The product was exclusively sold at Walmart stores, and it was distributed to stores in the following states: Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
As of now, there have been no reports of illnesses related to this product. The Texas Department of State Health Services found a sample of the product potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes during random testing at a local retail store.
The specific information regarding the product in question is 12-ounce Marketside Broccoli with the back of the bag displaying a UPC barcode of 6 81131 32884 5 and a batch number of BFFG327A6.
According to the FDA’s announcement, other Marketside or Braga Fresh products are not affected by this recall.