Broccoli Sold at Walmart Recalled In 20 States Over Possible Listeria

A recall affecting bagged broccoli florets is now underway in 20 states.

The broccoli, sold at Walmart stores in many states across the U.S., has been voluntarily recalled due to concerns that it may be contaminated with listeria bacteria, according to a notice posted to the Food and Drug Administration website on Dec. 31, 2024.

Specifically, the recall affects washed and ready-to-eat 12-ounce bags of Marketside Broccoli Florets from Braga Fresh.

As the company explained in a press release, the issue was discovered when random testing took place at a store in Texas and one of the samples turned up positive for listeria, a bacteria that causes food-borne illness.

All of the affected bags of broccoli florets have the same “best by” date: Dec. 10, 2024. Because this date has passed, the recalled products are not currently being sold in stores, the release says. And, to date, there haven’t been any illnesses reported in relation to the recall.

But consumers may still have the recalled products at home, so Braga Fresh is recalling the broccoli and notifying consumers out of an abundance of caution. If you purchased any of the recalled Marketside broccoli florets, you should discard the products and refrain from eating them.

This recall comes just a month after another recall affecting different broccoli products and vegetables, which were also sold at Walmart. That recall also included some Marketside branded items, such as Marketside Vegetable Medley and Marketside Stir Fry Medley products with specific UPC codes.

However, the previous recall was issued due to possible contamination with E. coli. The new recall is in response to concerns that the bagged broccoli florets could be contaminated with listeria, a different type of bacteria.

Listeria infections are typically mild, causing symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting that usually resolve on their own within a few days. But, in some cases, listeria can be more severe — especially if the illness spreads outside of the intestines.

Certain groups, including pregnant people pregnant, older adults, newborns and people with weakened immune systems, are more likely to develop serious complications from listeria.

Which broccoli products are recalled?

This recall only affects one product: 12-ounce bags of Marketside Broccoli Florets.

The affected items all have a “best if used by” date of Dec. 10, 2024. While this date has passed and the product is no longer in stores, there is concern that consumers who purchased the broccoli may still have it in their homes. Anyone who has the recalled broccoli florets should not eat them and instead discard the product.

If the product is included in the recall, it will also show the product UPC code “6 81131 32884 5” and lot code “BFFG327A6.”

Where was the recalled broccoli sold?

The recalled bagged broccoli was sold at Walmart stores in these 20 states:

• Alaska
• Arkanas
• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Michigan
• Montana
• Nevada
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Texas
• Utah
• Washington
• Wyoming

Listeria symptoms

Listeria is a type of bacteria that, when ingested, can cause an illness called listeriosis.

There are two types of listeriosis, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explain, including intestinal illness and invasive illness.

An intestinal listeria infection tends to cause mild symptoms that are similar to those of other food-borne illnesses, such as diarrhea and vomiting. You might also experience fever, chills and muscle aches, the Mayo Clinic says.

These symptoms typically start within 24 hours of eating the contaminated food and resolve within three days, per the CDC. However, in some cases, it can take 30 days or even longer to feel the first effects of a listeria infection, the Mayo Clinic adds.

However, some people who get intestinal listeriosis go on to develop a more severe and invasive illness that spreads beyond the intestines, the CDC explains. People who are pregnant, older adults, newborns and those with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe symptoms.

Symptoms of invasive listeria can include:

• Fever
• Muscle aches
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Stiff neck
• Loss of balance
• Seizures
• Confusion

However, in pregnant people, invasive listeria may only present with a fever and flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue and muscle aches. In rare cases, invasive listeria can lead to death.

Invasive listeria can cause more severe consequences, including miscarriage or stillbirth for pregnant people. So it’s important to know the signs of listeria and avoid contaminated food whenever possible.

If you’ve eaten recalled food that may have been contaminated with listeria, pay attention for signs of food-borne illness, the Mayo Clinic advises. And you should get in contact with your doctor if you develop concerning symptoms, particularly fever, muscle aches, nausea or diarrhea.

Although mild listeria infections generally resolve on their own without intervention, the Mayo Clinic says, antibiotic treatment can help in more serious cases.