The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) have confirmed they are investigating an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to peaches, plums, and nectarines (stone fruit).

The FDA said: “federal and state partners have continued to investigate the outbreak as new matching cases have been identified over the past several years. Samples from sick people were collected from August 22, 2018, to August 16, 2023.

“According to a case-case analysis conducted by CDC, people in this outbreak were 18 times more likely to eat peaches, plums, or nectarines. This suggests that peaches, plums, and nectarines, are a likely source of this outbreak.  On 23 October 2023, FDA collected samples of 2lb bagged peaches at The HMC Group Cold Storage, Inc (Kingsburg, CA) and on 7 November 2023, the samples were reported positive and a match to the outbreak strain by Whole Genome Sequencing.”

According to the US regulator, HMC Farms has voluntarily recalled peaches, plums, and nectarines sold in retail stores from 1 May 2022 through 15 November 2022 and from 1 May 2023 through 15 November 2023. The recalled fruit was sold at retail stores as individual pieces of fruit bearing PLU stickers or in consumer packaging, although the products are not available for sale now.

The FDA is advising consumers that have previously purchased recalled fresh peaches, plums and nectarines and then froze them that they should throw them away if they are part of the recall, or indeed if there is any doubt whether they are part of the recall or not.

Fresh whole peaches, plums, and nectarines currently available for sale at retail are not included in this recall.

So far cases have been recorded in California, Colorado, Ohio, Michigan, Kansas, Illinois, and Flordia. 10 people have been hospitalised as a result of the outbreak, with one death recorded by the FDA. 

The FDA says it is currently investigating the source of the contamination and will updat consumers when it has more information.

For more details on the recall, you can visit the FDA website here.