Listeria contamination is a concern in up to 6 states.
Here’s to crunching avocado on toast on a patio in the warm, glowing sunshine with a tall glass of iced tea to go with it: tastes like spring. Well, almost, without the listeria.
Avocados in grown in California and sold in six states by the Henry Avocado Corporation have been recalled because they may be contaminated with listeria.
No one has reported falling sick from eating the avocados in question, but a routine government inspection at the company’s packing facility in California came up positive and so the produce is being voluntarily recalled out of an abundance of caution, by the company.
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The states involved in the recall so far include Arizona, California, Florida, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Wisconsin.
The Henry Avocado Corporation also sells avocados grown in Mexico, and they are said to be OK to eat.
Listeria causes food poisoning, which is more commonly contracted by eating improperly processed deli meats and unpasteurized milk. Symptoms of an infection include a fever, muscle aches, diarrhea and nausea.
Amazingly, you may have symptoms just a few days after eating contaminated food or it could take as long as 30 days for the signs to surface. If the infection travels to your nervous system, as it can, according to the Mayo Clinic your symptoms can include:
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Confusion or changes in alertness
- Loss of balance
- Convulsions
- Sensitivity to light
These are signs of bacterial meningitis and need emergency treatment.
