By Michael Martinez and Alta Spells, CNN
(CNN) – Up to 1 million mangoes are being recalled voluntarily because they may be contaminated with Salmonella, as a preventive measure in the wake of 103 infections nationwide, a food distributor announced Thursday.
The mangoes bear the Daniella brand sticker with one of the following PLU numbers: 3114, 4051, 4311, 4584 or 4959, said Splendid Products of Burlingame, California.
The mangoes were sold as individual fruit throughout the country, including at Costco, Save Mart Supermarkets, Food 4 Less, Ralph’s, Topco stores, El Super, Kroger, Giant-Eagle, Stop & Shop, Aldi, and some Whole Foods stores, the produce firm said.
Federal, state and Canadian officials are investigating “a multistate cluster of 103 Salmonella Braenderup infections, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said. Preliminary information indicates that mangoes are a likely source for the U.S. illnesses. and U.S. officials are trying to determine the source of mangoes that may be linked to U.S. cases, the FDA said.
The California Department of Public Health has reported the majority of the cases — 73 — in the United States, the FDA said.
Ernest DelBuono, a spokesman for Splendid Products, said about 100,000 boxes of the fruit were sold to retailers and wholesalers nationwide, and a box carries between eight to 10 mangoes.
The distributor didn’t have an exact count on how many or which states are impacted by the voluntary recall, DelBuono said.
The fruit was cultivated and harvested in Mexico and was sold in the United States between July 12 and August 29, the distribution firm said.
Mangoes have been linked to a number of have been linked to recent cases of salmonellosis in Canada and may be linked to cases in California and perhaps other states, the distributor said.
Splendid Products sought the recall “out of an abundance of caution” and is conducting it in consultation with the FDA and the California Department of Public Health, the firm said.
“We want to let everyone know our top priority is public safety,” Splendid Products general manager Larry Nienkerk said in a statement. “We have notified all of our customers and we are working with all the government agencies that are involved. We didn’t want to wait.”
Symptoms of salmonella are diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever, and they develop within eight to 72 hours of eating the contaminated food, the distributor said.
While most people recover from the illness, which lasts four to seven days, salmonellosis can be severe or even life-threatening for infants, older people, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems, the distributor said.
Those who bought the recalled fruit shouldn’t eat them, and if a mango doesn’t have an identifying sticker, consumers should consider throwing them out or returning them to the store, the company said.
If consumers who are unsure if the mango is included in the recall or have additional questions, they can call the distributor at 866-918-8758 on Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern and on Saturday, September 1, from 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern.
