Company voluntarily recalls Zespri kiwis for listeria risk

Vancouver, British Columbia-based grower-distributor David Oppenheimer and Co., has voluntarily recalled from the market all 1-pound clamshells of Zespri brand organic green kiwifruit because of potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination, according to a news release.

The recalled organic green kiwifruit was grown in New Zealand, exported to North America and repacked locally for sale in 1-pound clear plastic clamshells bearing the Zespri brand. The recalled product includes UPC code 8 18849 02009 3, containing fruit with the GTIN bar code of 9400 9552.

The recalled organic green kiwifruit was shipped between June 14, 2023, and July 7, 2023, and sold in clamshells at retail locations the following states, according to the release:

• Florida

• Georgia

• Illinois

• Indiana

• Kentucky

• Michigan

• North Carolina

• New York

• Ohio

• Pennsylvania

• Tennessee

• Texas

• Virginia

• Wisconsin

Zespri organic green kiwifruit sold in other states are not subject to this recall. Also, not subject to the recall are Zespri organic green kiwifruit shipped after Aug. 7, 2023, in 1-pound plastic clamshells with a white sticker that includes work order number and packed on date that appears like the white sticker pictured below:

Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

For more information about the recall, contact David Oppenheimer and Co. at contact@oppy.com or call 1-866-698-2580.