Listeria Alert: Pero Family Farms, Publix Recall Butternut Squash Products Due To Possible Contamination

Pero Family Farms has recalled some of its butternut squash trays that are possibly contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes. Following this, grocery chain Publix has also pulled some products containing butternut squash from its stores.

The recall covers Pero Family Farms' butternut squash chunks, cubes and spirals. The company shared the product names, the run number codes and use-by dates on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website.

They were distributed with the Pero Family Farms label in Louisiana, Florida, Texas, New York, Maine, Georgia, Ohio, Virginia, Alabama and Missouri from Jan. 2 to 11, the FDA said.

Pero Family Farms learned about the issue when its supplier, Race West Company, notified the company about possible Listeria contamination in the products. An investigation into the matter is underway. The company has urged customers to either discard the recalled products or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

This has prompted Publix to recall some products containing butternut squash. Apart from the affected Pero Family Farms butternut squash products, it is pulling out its own "Steam In Bag" products that contain butternut squash from Pero Family Farms.

This includes the Publix Steam In Bag Green Bean Butternut Squash with GTIN 002-24887-00000, Publix Steam In Bag Season Butternut Medley with GTIN 002-25399-00000 and Publix Steam In Bag Butternut Brussel Pecan with GTIN 002-25677-00000. These were sold from Jan. 3 to 14, Food Safety News reported.

Those who already bought the products can return them to the store for a full refund.

So far, no illnesses related to both recalls have been reported, the FDA reported. Those with questions about the recall can contact Pero Family Farms at 561-498-5771 (ext. 2107).

Listeriosis

Listeriosis is a serious infection caused by food contaminated with the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1,600 people get listeriosis in the U.S. each year, 260 of whom die.

Although a listeria infection causes relatively short-term symptoms in healthy individuals, it can cause potentially fatal infections in young children and the elderly. It can even cause miscarriages or stillbirths in pregnant women, the FDA noted.

The symptoms of listeriosis may vary depending on the affected persons, but some common symptoms include fever and diarrhea, the CDC said. Further, it can take one to four weeks or even up to 70 days for people to show the symptoms. So, it's important for those who may have consumed an affected product to monitor themselves for possible symptoms.