Aldi, Other Major Retailers Recall Bagged and Loose Peaches Over Salmonella Risk

Locations: Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming

Target

Products: 2-pound bags of Prima Tree-Ripened Peaches, 2-pound bags of organic peaches, and loose peaches (including white)

Locations: Not specified

Walmart and Sam’s Club

Products: Bulk and loose Prima Wawona peaches

Locations: Select stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia  and Wyoming

Wegmans

Products: 2-pound bags of Wawona and Wegmans peaches purchased June 1 through Aug. 19. Select white, yellow, organic 2.5-pound box peaches sold June 1 through Aug. 21. Bakery items including vanilla trifles; a variety of cakes, pies and fruit tarts purchased Aug. 16 through Aug. 21 

Health officials continue investigation

The CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and local health officials are investigating to determine if other products or retailers are linked to the current outbreak.

Minnesota is the state with the most people infected with the outbreak strain, Salmonella enteritidis, reporting 23 cases. (There are more than 2,000 strains of salmonella). 

The CDC advises consumers to throw away Wawona-brand peaches purchased since June 1, even if no one has exhibited signs of illness from eating them. In addition, wash and sanitize areas where the peaches were stored, such as countertops and inside the refrigerator.

Annually in the U.S., salmonella bacteria cause about 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths, the CDC estimates. The CDC is currently investigating two separate salmonella outbreaks: one is linked to red onions grown in California, and the other is tied to backyard poultry across 48 states.

Symptoms of a salmonella infection

Those who contract salmonellosis, the intestinal infection caused by the bacteria, typically experience diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. In severe cases, the infection can spread from the intestines to urine, blood, bones, joints, spinal fluid or the brain. Symptoms usually begin six hours to six days after infection and last up to seven days. But in some instances, symptoms appear weeks after infection or symptoms persist for weeks, according to the CDC.

Infections are diagnosed with a lab test that will determine if the bacteria are present in a person's stool, body tissue or fluids. Although most people can recover without antibiotics, an antibiotic is recommended for anyone with a severe illness. Antibiotics also are recommended for infected adults over age 65 (or over 50 if an underlying condition such as heart disease is present), infants and those with weakened immune systems.