Meijer recalls some packaged produce due to Listeria risk

Midwestern superstore Meijer has issued a recall on some of its packaged produce sold in Illinois stores due to a potential health risk.

Meijer brand produce items sold between Sept. 27 and Oct. 20 may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems, according to a news release from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

"Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms like high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, a Listeria monocytogenes infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women," the release states.

Broccoli, cauliflower and other vegetables packaged in plastic containers or foam trays with printed labels of various sizes and weights are among the products affected. They were sold in Meijer stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. The full list can be viewed online at FDA.gov and includes almost 40 items.

Mann Packing, a Meijer supplier based in Salinas, California, alerted the chain of its possible contamination. No illnesses had been reported in connection to the recall as of Saturday.

Customers should stop using any products on the list and dispose of them or return them to the customer service desk at any Meijer store for a full refund. For additional information, contact Meijer at 800-543-3704, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.