Wawona Packing expands recall of peaches, other fruit

Out of an abundance of caution, Wawona Packing of Cutler, California is expanding its voluntary recall from July 19, 2014, of whole white and yellow peaches, white and yellow nectarines, plums and pluots due to the potential of the products being contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The July 19 recall covered specific lots of products packed from June 1 through July 12, 2014. Wawona Packing is expanding the recall, as a precautionary step, to cover all products packed in the Wawona Packing facility from June 1, 2014 through July 17, 2014 because the company’s experts have yet to identify with scientific certainty the source of Listeria monocytogenes in the facility.

Beginning on July 18, 2014, no products have been packed at the Wawona Packing facility in Cutler, California. Products packed on or after July 18 outside of the Wawona Packing facility are not affected by this recall.

The July 19 recall was initiated based on internal company testing. The company shut down the packing lines, retrofitted equipment, sanitized the facility, and is working with experts on listeria in making further improvements to the food safety program. Packing lines in the Cutler facility will not reopen until the company, working with experts, can know that they are safe, said a Wawona news release.

“Wawona Packing believes in the highest standards of food safety. We have been working around the clock to determine the source of the Listeria monocytogenes. We have brought in nationally known experts in food safety to investigate every part of our packing facility, and we are working with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration,” said company president Brent Smittcamp.