Sponsored By

Fresh fruit recall hits grocery retailers in 18 states

Jac. Vandenberg products potentially contain listeria

Russell Redman

January 29, 2019

2 Min Read
Supermarket News logo in a gray background | Supermarket News

Fruit distributor Jac. Vandenberg Inc. has recalled fresh peaches, nectarines and plums sold at a half-dozen grocery retailers — including Walmart, Costco Wholesale Corp. and Aldi — in 18 states because of possible listeria contamination.

The Food and Drug Administration said the recall from the Yonkers, N.Y.-based wholesaler includes 1,727 cartons of peaches, 1,207 cartons of nectarines and 365 cartons of plums. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the recall, which was enacted after a routine sampling program by the packing house found that some products contained listeria monocytogenes, according to the FDA.

Under the recall, Walmart pulled nectarines and/or peaches from shelves in eight states (Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia), while Costco removed nectarines sold under the Rio Duero brand from clubs in California.

Also affected were Ahold Delhaize USA’s Hannaford supermarket chain, which recalled peaches from stores in Maine. Nectarines and peaches were taken off shelves at Market Basket in Massachusetts and Fairway Market in New York.

Aldi, meanwhile, has pulled the recalled peaches, nectarines and plums — which it sold under the Rio Duero brand — from stores in eight states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Related:More than 5 million pounds of beef recalled

“In cooperation with Jac. Vandenberg Inc., and out of an abundance of caution, Aldi has voluntarily recalled Rio Duero peaches, nectarines and plums that were available for purchase in select stores due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Upon notification from the supplier, Aldi immediately removed the affected products from its stores,” Batavia, Ill.-based Aldi U.S. said in a statement. “The products were also available for purchase to Aldi customers through the company's partnership with Instacart, a grocery delivery service.”

The FDA said the recalled products also were sold through small retail establishments. Other states in the recall included Illinois and Michigan.

The affected peaches and nectarines are sold as a bulk retail produce item with the PLU sticker (PLU# 4044, 3035, 4378) showing Chile as the country of origin. At Aldi, the recalled peaches, nectarines and plums are packaged in a two-pound bag bearing the Rio Duero label (EAN# 7804650090281, 7804650090298, 7804650090304), while at Costco the affected Rio Duero nectarines (EAN# 7804650090212) come in a four-pound plastic clamshell package, the FDA reported.

Related:Consumers warned not to eat romaine lettuce

Jac. Vandenberg “has ceased the distribution of the product as FDA and the company continue their investigation as to what caused the problem,” the agency said. “Consumers who have purchased fresh peaches, fresh nectarines and fresh plums are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.”

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

Stay up-to-date on the latest food retail news and trends
Subscribe to free eNewsletters from Supermarket News

You May Also Like