Bags of ready-to-eat broccoli florets sold in 20 states have been recalled over concerns they may be contaminated with listeria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Braga Fresh Foods has voluntarily recalled one lot of its 12-ounce bags of Marketside Broccoli Florets, according to a recall notice shared<\/a> by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Dec. 31.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Braga Fresh Foods, a California-based company, said in its Dec. 27 recall notice<\/a> that the “potential for contamination was discovered during random sampling by Texas Health & Human Services from a Texas store location where one of multiple samples yielded a positive test result.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The company noted that no illnesses have been reported to date in connection to the recalled food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The recalled bags of Marketside Broccoli Florets were sold at Walmart stores in 20 states, according to the recall notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The bags feature a “best if used by” date of Dec. 10, 2024, and have a UPC code of 6 81131 32884 5 on the back and a lot code of BFFG327A6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Braga Fresh Foods noted that the recalled bags are no longer for sale and are past their expiration date.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n If consumers are in possession of a recalled bag, they are urged to discard the bag and not to consume the product, according to the recall notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria that, when ingested, can cause an infection known as listeriosis, according to<\/a> the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The condition is most dangerous for pregnant people, newborns, people with weakened immune systems and adults 65 or older, according to<\/a> the CDC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For people who are pregnant, being infected by listeria can cause pregnancy loss or premature birth, the CDC notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the CDC, an estimated 1,600 people get listeriosis annually in the U.S. and about 260 people die from it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best way to avoid listeria, according to the CDC, is to avoid contaminated foods when possible and other high-risk foods such as unpasteurized dairy products, soft cheeses, raw or undercooked meats, and ready-to-eat deli meats unless they are reheated until steaming hot.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n People who may have been exposed to listeria can watch for symptoms anywhere from 24 hours to two weeks after eating contaminated food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Listeria can cause an intestinal illness that develops typically within 24 hours of eating contaminated food and usually lasts one to three days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Symptoms of intestinal listeriosis are typically mild and include diarrhea and vomiting, according to the CDC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A more severe type of listeriosis, known as invasive listeriosis, occurs when listeria spreads beyond the intestines, according to the CDC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Symptoms of invasive listeriosis typically start within two weeks after eating contaminated food, according to the CDC, and include a fever and flu-like symptoms including fatigue and muscle aches as well as headaches, confusion and loss of balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The CDC recommends seeing a health care provider if you ate a food that has been recalled or linked to a listeria outbreak, and you experience symptoms of listeriosis such as a fever, fatigue and muscle aches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n