If you think “organic” means safe, think again. Organic, “Purity” brand mangoes are being recalled because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a nasty organism that can make people very ill and cause miscarriages.

Their distributor, San Francisco-based Pacific Organic Produce, is voluntarily recalling the fruit because a single sample tested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration revealed contamination by Listeria. The company didn't say where the mangoes were grown, but that they are the Tommy Atkins variety. (In the last few years, there have been several recalls of mangoes imported from Mexico.)
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The mangoes were sold in California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas and New Jersy.

No illnesses have been reported, but Listeria has a lengthy incubation period. The suspect shipments were sold between April 14 and May 2. Their PLU sticker codes are 94051 and 94959. The company advises consumers to throw away any mangoes with those sticker codes, retaining their store receipts or PLU stickers if possible.

Pacific Organic Produce says it is coordinating closely with regulatory officials and has contacted its customers to ensure that any remaining recalled products are removed, according to Food Safety News.

Customers with questions can call Pacific Organic Produce customer service at (415) 673-5555 during business hours (Pacific Time).

Listeria outbreaks in fruit can quickly turn very serious – note the 2011 Jensen Farms cantaloupe outbreak that lead to a congressional investigation and criminal prosecution of the processor after at least 30 people died and a minimum of 146 people were sickened across 28 states. 

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