Recalled: Frozen Fruit Sold at Target, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Walmart, and Other Retailers Due to Risk of Listeria

No illnesses have been reported

By Lisa L. Gill
Investigative Reporter

Published June 22, 2023·Updated June 30, 2023

Good and Gather Cherries & Berries Fruit Blend,
365 Tropical Fruit Medley, and Great Value Mixed Fruit

Three companies—Sunrise Growers, Scenic Fruit Company, and Townsend Farms—have recalled more than 20 varieties of frozen, pre-cut fruit products—including those with berries, cherries, mango, and pineapple—sold under various brands. The fruit may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a dangerous bacteria that can cause serious infections or even death in very young children, older people, and those with weakened immune systems.

The products were sold nationwide at Target, Trader Joe’s, and Whole Foods Market, and in select states at Aldi, AWG (Associated Wholesale Grocers), Baker’s, Dillons, Food 4 Less, FoodsCo, Fry’s, Gerbes, Health Food, Jay C, Kroger, Mariano’s, Metro Market, Pay Less, Pick n’ Save, Ralphs, Ruler, Smith’s, and Walmart stores. No illnesses have been reported.

The products are:

Aldi (Season’s Choice): Tropical Blend; Mixed Fruit

AWG: Best Choice Pitted Red Tart Cherries, Unsweetened

Baker’s, Dillons, Food 4 Less, FoodsCo, Fry’s, Gerbes, Jay C, Mariano’s, Kroger, Metro Market, Pay Less, Pick n’ Save, Ralphs, Ruler, and Smith’s (Private Selection) : Blueberries, Strawberries & Mangoes; Classic Fruit Medley; Strawberry, Mango & Pineapple Blend; Tropical Mango Chunks

Health Food: Cadia Organic Pineapple

Target (Good & Gather): Organic Cherries and Berries Fruit Blend; Dark Sweet Whole Pitted Cherries; Mango Strawberry Blend; Mixed Fruit Blend; Mango Chunks; Blueberries; Triple Berry Blend

Trader Joe’s: Organic Tropical Fruit Blend

Walmart (Great Value): Mixed Fruit; Dark Sweet Cherries; Mango Chunks

Whole Foods Market (365): Organic Tropical Fruit Medley; Organic Pineapple Chunks; Pineapple Chunks; Organic Whole Strawberries; Organic Sliced Strawberries & Bananas; Organic Blackberries

Only products with certain lot codes and sell-by dates are involved in this recall. You can find that information from the FDA, as well as information on the states where the products were sold, for Sunrise Growers , Scenic Fruit Company. and Townsend Farms.

SunOpta says that pineapple from a third-party supplier is the fruit that’s potentially contaminated. "The other products that were recalled and did not contain pineapple were manufactured on the production line after the potentially contaminated pineapple without a cleaning in between," a company spokesperson said. "Out of an abundance of caution, we included this sequenced product in the recall." SunOpta has stopped using this third-party supplier, the spokesperson said.

Scenic Fruit Company and Townsend Farms did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Listeria can easily flourish in cold environments, such as refrigerators and processing plants, says James E. Rogers, PhD, director of food safety research and testing at Consumer Reports. And the problem is that “once listeria gets on equipment at a food processing facility, it’s difficult to get rid of,” says Rogers.

The Risk of Listeria

Most people who become infected with listeria (called listeriosis) don’t get seriously ill, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Symptoms include fever and diarrhea, while a more serious infection can cause muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. People with invasive listeriosis notice symptoms between a week and four weeks after eating food contaminated with the bacteria.

An estimated 1,600 people get listeriosis each year, and about 260 die, according to the CDC.

@consumerreports
Sunrise Growers has recalled 20 varieties of frozen, pre-cut fruit products—including those with berries, cherries, and pineapple—sold under various brands. Learn more through the link in our bio. foodrecall frozenfruit foodtok
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Lisa L. Gill

Lisa L. Gill is an award-winning investigative reporter. She has been at Consumer Reports since 2008, covering health and food safety—heavy metals in the food supply and foodborne illness—plus healthcare and prescription drug costs, medical debt, and credit scores. Lisa also testified before Congress and the Food and Drug Administration about her work on drug costs and drug safety. She lives in a DIY tiny home, where she gardens during the day and stargazes the Milky Way at night.