Avocados Recalled in 6 States for Possible Listeria Contamination
Before you pay extra for guac, listen to this: Avocados sold in six states are being voluntarily recalled and customers are being warned about the possibility of listeria in their avocados, according to a recall notice posted on the FDA's site.
Specifically, Henry Avocado is voluntarily recalling California-grown avocados sold in Arizona, California, Florida, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Wisconsin after a routine government test turned up positive results for listeria monocytogenes at the company's California packing facility. Avocados affected by the recall will either have a "Bravocado" sticker on them or, if they are organic, will have both "organic" and "California" on the sticker.
The recall does not include avocados imported from Mexico that Henry Avocado also distributes.
Here are the symptoms of listeria to keep in mind.
The symptoms of listeria infections are generally similar to other foodborne illnesses, the CDC says. And those may include fever, muscle aches, nausea, and diarrhea, according to the Mayo Clinic.
If the infection has reached beyond the gut, they can cause more serious symptom, such as:
Headache
Stiff neck
Confusion
Loss of balance
Convulsions
But, as SELF explained previously, listeria poses a specific risk to pregnant people. If the infection has spread beyond the gut in someone who is pregnant, they may only experience flulike symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, and muscle aches, the CDC says. But the infection can still cause serious side effects, including miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or a life-threatening illness in the newborn.
Older adults and people with weakened immune systems are also at a greater risk for experiencing more severe symptoms. But, in general, healthy adults are able to recover from an infection without issues. If the infection is mild, there may not be any need for treatment, the Mayo Clinic says. For more severe symptoms, patients may be prescribed antibiotics.
To date, there haven't been any illnesses associated with the recall, and Henry Avocado says they are already contacting retailers to remove the affected avocados from stores. But the company is also urging any consumers who may have purchased them not to eat them. If you happen to have them in your kitchen, you can either toss them or return them for a refund.
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