Listeria outbreak fruit recall: Linked outbreak situation, affected products, and response.

CDC warns of listeria outbreak linked to peaches, nectarines, and plums, with 10 hospitalizations and 1 death in 7 states.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning about a listeria outbreak connected to peaches, nectarines, and plums that have been recalled. This comes after 10 hospitalizations and one death have been reported in seven states.

The affected fruits, distributed nationwide and sold at retail stores, were branded "HMC Farms" or "Signature Farms." The recall does not include organic fruit.

HMC Group Marketing has voluntarily recalled the fruit, which was sold between May 1 and Nov. 15, 2022, and the same dates in 2023. The affected fruits have a sticker reading "USA-E-U" with numbers 4044 or 4038 for yellow peach, 4401 for white peach, 4036 or 4378 for yellow nectarine, 3035 for white nectarine, 4042 for red plum, and 4040 for black plum. The recall also includes the fruit sold in two-pound bags. The CDC is currently investigating to determine if any additional fruit or products made with this fruit may be contaminated.

Listeria infection is particularly harmful to pregnant people, those aged 65 or older, or individuals with weakened immune systems as it can spread beyond the gut to other parts of the body, according to the CDC.

Symptoms of listeria infection, such as fever, muscle aches, and tiredness, may begin within two weeks after consuming the contaminated food, but they can also occur as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks after exposure, the CDC notes on its website.

Even though the recalled fruits are no longer available in stores, they may still be in consumers' homes for later use. The CDC advises consumers to check their freezers and discard or return the fruits that meet the criteria. The agency also urges consumers to clean surfaces and containers that have come into contact with the fruit.

In a statement to ABC News, Amy Philpott, a spokeswoman for HMC Group Marketing, said, "There is nothing more important to us than providing safe, high-quality fruit to consumers. We never want anyone to become ill from eating fresh fruit, and our hearts go out to those affected by the outbreak. We are working tirelessly with the FDA to investigate how the contamination happened."

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