Urgent Alert: 5 Critical Facts About The 2024 Blueberries, Mushrooms, And Listeria Recall Crisis

The United States food supply chain faced a significant public health threat in late 2024, culminating in two separate, high-risk recalls involving both fresh and frozen produce. This dual crisis centered on the dangerous foodborne pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes, which was detected in both organic blueberries and various brands of Enoki mushrooms. The severity of the situation prompted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue its highest-level warning—a Class I recall—for the affected products, urging consumers to immediately check their refrigerators and freezers to prevent serious illness or death.

As of December 18, 2025, these recalls remain a critical topic, underscoring the constant vigilance required in food safety. The convergence of two distinct Listeria contamination events in different produce categories—frozen fruit and raw mushrooms—has raised serious concerns among food safety experts and consumers alike. This article breaks down the essential details of both the blueberry and mushroom recalls, providing consumers with the necessary information to protect themselves and their families from the risk of Listeriosis.

The Dual Threat: Organic Blueberries and Enoki Mushrooms Recalled

The late 2024 food safety alerts were characterized by two major, concurrent recalls, both involving the potentially fatal bacterial contamination of Listeria monocytogenes. While the products and companies were different, the shared pathogen created a widespread concern across the nation.

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The High-Risk Blueberry Recall: Alma Pak International LLC

The blueberry recall was initiated by Alma Pak International LLC after routine testing detected the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. This led to a voluntary recall that was quickly escalated by the FDA to a Class I designation, indicating the most serious level of risk.

• Company Involved: Alma Pak International LLC.
• Product Recalled: Frozen Organic Blueberries.
• Packaging: The recall primarily involves 30-pound bulk boxes, suggesting distribution to food service providers, manufacturers, or large-scale retailers.
• Specific Lot Codes: Consumers should look for lot codes such as 13325 G1060, among others specified in the full FDA alert.
• Risk Assessment: The Class I designation signifies a "reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death."

The contamination of frozen organic blueberries is particularly concerning because frozen produce is often consumed without a kill step, such as cooking, or is used in smoothies and other raw preparations. Consumers who may have purchased these bulk boxes, either directly or through smaller repackaged units, are strongly advised to destroy the product immediately.

The Widespread Mushroom Recall: Enoki and Needle Varieties

A separate, yet simultaneous, recall involved multiple brands and distributors of Enoki mushrooms and Needle mushrooms. This recall has been a recurring issue in recent years, highlighting a persistent challenge in the fresh produce industry, particularly with imported items.

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• Companies Involved: Multiple distributors, including New Age International Inc., HH Fresh Trading Corp, and LLK Trading Inc., among others.
• Product Recalled: Enoki Mushrooms (often labeled as "Enoki Mushroom" or "Daily Veggies Enoki Mushroom") and Needle Mushrooms.
• Packaging: Typically sold in 200g (7.05-ounce) clear plastic packages.
• Timeframe: Products distributed between October and November of 2024 are specifically cited in the alerts.
• Distribution: The mushroom recalls were distributed nationwide across the United States and in some cases, into Canada, broadening the potential exposure.

Raw mushrooms, like Enoki, are often used in salads or lightly cooked, which may not be enough to eliminate the Listeria bacteria. This makes immediate disposal or return of the affected product crucial for public safety.

Understanding the Threat of Listeria Monocytogenes and Listeriosis

The reason for the FDA's severe Class I warning is the nature of the pathogen itself. Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause Listeriosis, a serious and sometimes fatal infection. Unlike many other bacteria, Listeria can grow even at refrigerated temperatures, making it a particularly insidious threat in refrigerated and frozen food products.

Who is at Highest Risk from Listeriosis?

While healthy individuals may only experience mild, flu-like symptoms, the infection poses a severe risk to specific high-risk groups.

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• Pregnant Women: Listeriosis can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
• Adults Over 65: As the immune system naturally weakens with age, older adults are significantly more susceptible to severe infection.
• Immunocompromised Individuals: People with weakened immune systems due to underlying conditions (such as cancer, HIV, or kidney disease) or those undergoing treatments like chemotherapy are at a gravely increased risk.
• Newborns: Infants can contract the infection from their mothers during or after birth.

Key Symptoms to Watch For

Symptoms of Listeriosis can vary greatly, and the incubation period can be long—up to 70 days after exposure. This delayed onset makes tracing the source of the infection difficult.

In high-risk individuals, symptoms often manifest as severe, invasive illness, including:

• Fever and muscle aches.
• Headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance (signs of meningitis).
• Convulsions.
• Gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea and other digestive issues).

If you or someone you know from a high-risk group consumed the recalled blueberries or mushrooms and begins to exhibit these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention. Be sure to inform healthcare providers about the potential exposure to Listeria contamination.

Immediate Action Steps: What Consumers Must Do Now

The primary intention behind a Class I recall is to remove the dangerous product from the stream of commerce and, more importantly, from consumers' homes. The FDA and the recalling companies have issued clear directives on how to handle the affected frozen blueberries and raw Enoki mushrooms.

1. Check Your Products Immediately

The first and most crucial step is to verify if any of the recalled products are in your possession. This means checking your freezer for frozen organic blueberries (especially bulk 30-pound boxes or any repackaged fruit from the Alma Pak International LLC lot codes) and your refrigerator for Enoki mushrooms (particularly the 200g packages from brands like Daily Veggies or other recalled distributors). Even if a package looks and smells normal, it can still harbor the deadly bacteria.

2. Destroy or Return the Recalled Items

Do not eat, serve, or sell the recalled blueberries or mushrooms. They should be destroyed immediately by placing them in a sealed bag and disposing of them in a secure trash receptacle that is inaccessible to pets or other animals. Alternatively, you can return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund. This is a critical food safety alert that cannot be ignored, especially given the Class I risk level.

3. Clean and Sanitize Your Kitchen

Since Listeria monocytogenes can easily spread to other surfaces and foods through cross-contamination, a thorough cleaning of any area that came into contact with the recalled produce is mandatory. This includes refrigerators, freezers, cutting boards, countertops, and utensils. Use a strong cleaning solution, such as a mixture of one tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach to one gallon of water, to sanitize all surfaces.

4. Stay Informed and Monitor for Symptoms

Keep abreast of any updates from the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you consumed the recalled items, monitor yourself and family members for symptoms of Listeriosis for up to two months following consumption. The long incubation period means symptoms can appear weeks after the initial exposure. Always consult a healthcare professional if symptoms develop.

The dual recalls involving Alma Pak's frozen organic blueberries and the various Enoki mushroom brands serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of checking recall notices. By taking immediate action—checking lot codes, destroying the contaminated items, and sanitizing preparation areas—consumers can effectively mitigate the risk associated with this serious public health threat.