Urgent Dried Fruit Recall In 19 States Over Serious Health Risk

Hey there, fruit lovers! I never thought my favorite snack would make headlines for all the wrong reasons.
A major dried fruit recall is currently underway across 19 states due to a potentially serious health risk.
If you’ve recently purchased dried apricots, you’ll want to check your pantry immediately.
1. Source Of Contamination Identified

Investigators discovered the processing equipment at the Fresno facility had been harboring Listeria monocytogenes for months. The bacteria, which thrives in cool, moist environments, had colonized critical drying chambers where the fruit receives its final processing. Maintenance records revealed irregular cleaning schedules and shortcuts taken during sanitization procedures.
One whistleblower reported seeing mold growing on ceiling panels directly above production lines. Symptoms of Listeria infection include fever, muscle aches, headache, and sometimes gastrointestinal problems. For vulnerable populations like pregnant women, newborns, and those with weakened immune systems, this contamination could prove fatal. Consumers should return affected products to their place of purchase for a full refund.
2. Potential Health Reactions

Nausea and dizziness might be your body’s first warning signs after eating contaminated dried fruits. These initial symptoms often appear within 30 minutes of consumption, especially in people with sulfite sensitivities.
Breathing difficulties represent the most alarming reaction, with some consumers reporting tightness in their chest and wheezing similar to asthma attacks. Children and elderly individuals have shown particularly severe responses, with several hospitalizations reported across affected states.
Skin reactions including hives, itching, and redness might also develop as your body responds to the excessive sulfur dioxide. If you experience any of these symptoms after consuming dried fruits purchased in the last three months, seek medical attention immediately and report your case to local health authorities.
3. What To Do If You Have Purchased Affected Products

First things first – don’t panic, but do check your pantry immediately. If you find any Golden Harvest Naturals, SunFresh Organics, or Trader’s Farm Choice dried fruit packages with lot numbers between DRF2025-04A and DRF2025-07C, don’t consume them.
Return these products to the store where you purchased them for a full refund. Most retailers are offering no-questions-asked refunds even without receipts due to the serious nature of this recall.
Take a photo of the packaging before returning it, as this information might be helpful if you’ve already consumed the product and experience symptoms. The CDC recommends watching for digestive issues for up to 72 hours after consumption.
4. States Impacted By The Recall

Colorful maps highlighting the affected regions have been released by federal health authorities, showing just how far these contaminated dried fruits have traveled. The products reached grocery store shelves in California, Texas, New York, Illinois, Florida, Georgia, and eleven other states, primarily concentrated in regions with high fruit consumption rates.
Supply chain experts note the sophisticated distribution networks that allowed these products to reach so many states so quickly. Warehouse inventories suggest thousands of potentially contaminated packages may still be sitting in consumers’ homes.
Food safety inspectors are working overtime to ensure retailers have removed all affected products. The recall covers multiple dried fruit varieties including apricots, mangoes, pineapples, and mixed fruit medleys packaged between March and July of this year.
5. Grocery Stores Taking Swift Action

Retailers across the country aren’t wasting any time pulling potentially dangerous dried fruit from circulation. Store employees at Whole Foods, Kroger, Sprouts, and Safeway have been working overtime to clear shelves of all affected products, which include popular dried mango slices, apricot halves, and tropical fruit medleys.
Large warning signs now greet shoppers in produce sections where these items were once displayed. Many stores are taking the extra precaution of checking storage areas and delivery trucks for overlooked inventory.
Customer service departments have been flooded with calls from concerned shoppers wondering if their recent purchases are safe to eat. Most retailers are offering full refunds without receipts during this health emergency.
6. Emergency Response Plan For Affected Consumers

Found yourself munching on those recalled dried apricots or mangoes? Don’t panic just yet! First, document exactly what you ate and when symptoms appeared—this information helps doctors tremendously.
Keep the packaging if possible, as batch numbers will help authorities track contamination patterns. For mild reactions like headaches or stomach discomfort, staying hydrated is crucial as sulfites can cause dehydration.
Consider creating an exposure diary if you’ve consumed multiple products. Note everything from tingling sensations to breathing changes. This recall affects different dried fruits with varying sulfite levels, so your specific reaction details matter for proper treatment and for any potential compensation claims later.
7. Mystery Contaminant Baffles Food Scientists

Food safety experts are scratching their heads over an unusual contaminant found in the recalled dried fruit. Unlike typical foodborne pathogens, this mysterious substance shows properties never before documented in food safety literature.
Laboratory tests reveal it may have originated from an exotic fungus that somehow survived the dehydration process. The fungus produces a toxin that can remain stable for months at room temperature.
Scientists from three major universities have been called in to study this phenomenon. “In thirty years of food safety work, I’ve never seen anything quite like this,” admitted Dr. Elaine Forrester, lead investigator at the National Food Safety Laboratory.