INDIANA – One person has died and 11 people were hospitalized after eating peaches, nectarines, and plums, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Monday.
The true number of sick people is likely higher than the number reported. This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Listeria.
HMC Farms nationally sold the fruits from May 1 through November 15 in both 2022 and 2023. The fruit was recalled after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found listeria in a sample of peaches.
The CDC warned, “Interviews with sick people and laboratory findings show that whole peaches, nectarines, and plums distributed by HMC Farms are making people sick.”
No cases of illness were reported in Indiana. Cases were reported in Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio.
The fruit was removed from stores but may remain in people’s refrigerators or freezers, the CDC says. Listeria can survive refrigeration and freezing.
Federal investigators were checking for other fruit products that may be contaminated.
Listeriosis can cause mild, flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches, and diarrhea or upset stomach. You also may have a stiff neck, headache, confusion, or loss of balance. Symptoms may appear as late as 2 months after you have eaten something with Listeria. It can be serious for pregnant women, people 66 and older, and people with weakened immune systems. Antibiotics can help curb the effects of the infection.
