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 No illnesses associated with the recall have been reported, the
Henry Avocado Corporation said in its recall notice on Saturday,
adding the measure was taken "out of an abundance of caution."
The recall covers California-harvested avocados - both
conventionally grown and organic - that were shipped to retailers in
California, Arizona, Florida, New Hampshire, North Carolina and
Wisconsin, said the company.
The conventional avocados carry "Bravocado" brand stickers on the
fruit, while organically grown products bear stickers labeled
"organic" and the word "California," according to the company, based
in Escondido, California, near San Diego.
The avocados were recalled after environmental samples taken during
a routine government inspection at the company's California packing
facility tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, the company
said.
That bacteria strain can cause serious and sometimes fatal
infections in pregnant women, young children, the elderly or others
with weakened immune systems. Risks to pregnant women include
miscarriages and stillbirths.
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Others exposed may suffer short-term symptoms such as high fever,
nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Avocados imported from Mexico and distributed by Henry, a
family-owned business, were not affected.
Consumers were urged to discard any recalled avocados or return them
to their place of purchase for a refund.
In the meantime, the company said it was focused on cleaning and
sanitizing its packing plant - an operation conducted and overseen
by a third-party - and would conduct additional sample testing
before fruit-packing resumes there.
The California Avocado Commission is projecting a harvest of roughly
175 million pounds statewide this season, about half the size of
last year's crop, due in part to unusually high temperatures during
the latest growing season.
(Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
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