The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has upgraded the recall for broccoli sold at Walmart stores in 20 states to its most serious risk level more than one month after the recall was originally issued.
On Monday, Jan. 27, the FDA said the Braga Fresh recall on the washed and ready-to-eat 12 oz Marketside Broccoli Florets with a best-by date of Dec. 10, 2024, is now categorized as a Class 1 recall.
This type of recall can be deadly, according to the FDA. The FDA defines a Class 1 recall as “a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death,” according to its website.
The recall was initiated for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination after a sample of the product from a Texas store tested positive for the bacteria during a random sampling conducted by the state’s health department.
No illnesses had been reported at the time of the initial recall.
“Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems,” according to the FDA. “Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria monocytogenes infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.”
The recalled broccoli was distributed to Walmart stores in Michigan, along with 19 other states including Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Here are the specific details for the recalled product:
- UPC Code: 6 81131 32884 5
- Lot Code: BFFG327A6
Consumers are advised not to consume the product and to discard it.
Anyone with questions about the recall can contact Braga Fresh at 877-456-7445 Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST or email WeCare@bragafresh.com.
