Recall issued for produce items sold in 18 states amid listeria concerns

A previously-issued recall has been expanded to include produce items sold in 18 states, primarily in and around the Midwest.

(WJW) - A previously-issued recall for cucumbers sold at select Walmart stores has been expanded to include even more produce sold at Aldi, Walmart, Kroger, and more grocery stores across multiple states.

Earlier this month, Ohio-based company, Wiers Farm Inc. voluntarily recalled some whole and bagged salad cucumbers sold at select Walmarts in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio "out of an abundance of caution." Officials believed the cucumbers may have been contaminated with listeria monocytogenes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection, that sickens about 1,600 people each year. Some cases can be fatal.

On Monday, Wiers Farm Inc. expanded the recall to include additional bagged produce items.

A notice posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration shows the voluntary recall now impacts green beans, peppers, jalapenos, zucchini, yellow squash, and more because the impacted produce could potentially be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes.

Products involved in the expanded recall were packed between July 5-12.

The below recalled items were sold at select Walmart stores in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

• Wiers Farm Bagged Poblano - UPC 073064202581 – 16 oz bag
• Wiers Farm Bagged Cubanelle - UPC 073064201836 – 16 oz bag
• Wiers Farm Bagged Green Beans – UPC 073064200846 – variable weight bag
• Wiers Farm Bagged Salad Cucumber – UPC 073064459619 – 2 lb. bag
• Wiers Farm Bagged Serrano – UPC 073064201829 – 4 oz bag
• Wiers Farm Organic Bell Pepper – UPC 073064201416 – 2 count tray
• Wiers Farm Organic Cucumber – UPC 073064201423 – 2 count tray
• Wiers Farm Organic Yellow Squash – UPC 073064201447 – 2 count tray
• Wiers Farm Organic Zucchini Squash – UPC 073064201430 – 2 count tray

Two items — 16-ounce bags of Freshire Farms Bagged Green Beans and 8-ounce bags of bag Freshire Farms Bagged Jalapenos — sold at Aldi stores in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia were recalled as well.

Sixteen produce items sold individually or by the pound were also included in the recall. That includes:

• Anaheim peppers
• Cilantro – sold in bunches
• Cubanelle peppers
• Cucumber – whole
• Green beans
• Green Bell Pepper
• Habanero peppers
• Hungarian Wax peppers
• Jalapeno peppers
• Mixed Vegetable Box (shipped to Cleveland and Youngstown, Ohio Foodbanks only)
• Mustard Greens – sold in bunches
• Pickling Cucumber
• Plain Parsley – sold in bunches
• Poblano peppers
• Serrano peppers
• Tomatillos

These products were distributed to stores in 18 states. Below is a list of those states, as well as the grocery chains that received the now-recalled products. The FDA did not say when these items would have been sold to consumers.

• Connecticut: Walmart and Save-a-Lot
• Delaware: Walmart and Save-a-Lot
• Illinois: Walmart and Kroger
• Indiana: Walmart and Kroger
• Kentucky: Walmart and Kroger
• Maine: Save-a-Lot
• Maryland: Walmart, Save-a-Lot, Shop N Save (cucumber, green bell pepper and pickling cucumber only)
• Michigan: Walmart, Kroger, and Save-a-Lot
• Missouri: Kroger
• New Jersey: Walmart and Save-a-Lot
• New York: Walmart, Save-a-Lot, Shop N Save (cucumber, green bell pepper and pickling cucumber only)
• North Carolina: Save-a-Lot
• Ohio: Walmart, Kroger, Save-a-Lot, Shop N Save (cucumber, green bell pepper and pickling cucumber only), and Cleveland and Youngstown Foodbanks (mixed vegetable boxes only)
• Pennsylvania: Walmart, Save-a-Lot, Shop N Save (for a detailed list of additional Pennsylvania retailers who received recalled products, click here)
• Rhode Island: Save-a-Lot
• Tennessee: Kroger
• Virginia: Walmart and Save-a-Lot
• West Virginia: Walmart, Kroger, Save-a-Lot, Shop N Save and Shop N Save Express (cucumber, green bell pepper and pickling cucumbers only), Foodland (cucumber, green bell pepper and pickling cucumber only), and Fas Chek Market (cucumber only)

According to the FDA, so far, there have been no illnesses or consumer complaints reported.

The FDA notes that products involved in the original recall are already past their shelf life and should be out of distribution. Those who still have the product should discard them.

“Consumers who have consumed the affected product and are experiencing symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal issues should seek medical attention. ” the original FDA alert stated.

This is just the latest listeria-related incident in the U.S.

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said at least two people have died and more than two dozen have been hospitalized amidst an outbreak of listeria food poisoning linked to sliced meat sold at grocery store deli counters.

A recall was not immediately issued because it was unclear what specific products had been contaminated.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.