We all assume that the fresh produce sitting in our carts is safe to eat. After all, fruits and vegetables are supposed to be the healthy choice, right? But over the past few decades, some of the biggest food recalls in American history have involved things like spinach, cantaloupe, and even peanut butter. These weren’t small mishaps either. Some of these recalls killed people, hospitalized hundreds, and cost companies millions of dollars. The worst part is that many of these disasters happened because someone cut corners or ignored warning signs.
Peanut butter killed nine people in 2009
Back in 2009, a small peanut processing plant in Georgia caused what became the biggest produce recall in American history. The Peanut Corporation of America shipped out peanut products that were contaminated with salmonella, even though company executives knew about the problem. This wasn’t just some accidental oversight. Internal emails showed that the company’s owner, Stewart Parnell, told workers to ship contaminated products anyway. Nine people died from eating these tainted peanuts, and over 700 more got seriously sick across 46 states.
The recall affected almost 4,000 different products from more than 360 companies. While big names like Jif and Peter Pan weren’t involved, plenty of other stuff was pulled from shelves, including Keebler crackers, Famous Amos cookies, and even airline snacks. Peanut butter sales dropped by 25% after the scandal broke. Stewart Parnell ended up getting sentenced to 28 years in prison for knowingly shipping contaminated food. His brother got 20 years, and the plant manager got five years. The company shut down for good after the whole mess unfolded.
Contaminated cantaloupe from Colorado killed 33 people
In 2011, cantaloupe melons from Jensen Farms in Colorado became the source of the deadliest foodborne outbreak in almost 30 years. The contaminated cantaloupes were infected with listeria bacteria, which killed 33 people and made 147 others sick across 28 states. One pregnant woman even lost her baby after eating the tainted fruit. Colorado alone had more than 40 reported cases, and over 99% of infected people ended up in the hospital. This wasn’t just bad luck either. Investigators found that the farm used dirty equipment meant for washing potatoes to clean their melons.
The Jensen brothers who owned the farm decided to skip the chlorine spray that would have killed the listeria bacteria. They also had contaminated water on their plant floor and used old equipment that was impossible to clean properly. After the outbreak, the brothers filed for bankruptcy and pleaded guilty to numerous charges, including food adulteration. They both served time in prison for their role in the disaster. Since 2011, fresh cantaloupe sales have dropped significantly. Americans used to eat about 8 pounds of cantaloupe per person each year, but now that number has fallen to around 5.5 pounds.
Bagged spinach sent 200 people to the hospital in 2006
Remember when everyone suddenly stopped eating spinach in 2006? That’s because bagged spinach became contaminated with E. coli bacteria, and the FDA told everyone in the country to stop eating it immediately. This was the first time the agency had ever made such a broad warning about American-grown produce. The contaminated spinach came from Natural Selection Foods, which packaged spinach for about 30 different companies, including Dole’s baby spinach products. More than 200 people got sick across 26 states and Canada, with over 100 ending up in the hospital.
Three people died from the contamination, and many others developed kidney problems that caused life-threatening complications. The outbreak lasted for weeks before officials could track down the source and get all the contaminated products off store shelves. Even after the warning was lifted, people remained scared of bagged spinach. Sales dropped dramatically, and the entire spinach industry took a massive financial hit. The incident also led to major changes in how fresh produce is handled and packaged across the country, with new safety rules being put in place to prevent similar outbreaks.
Organic carrots from Grimmway Farms caused an E. coli outbreak in 2024
Just last year, organic carrots became the center of a major E. coli scare. Grimmway Farms in California recalled both whole and baby organic carrots that were sold at stores like Target, Walmart, and Trader Joe’s. The contaminated carrots affected 48 people across 19 states, with one person dying from the infection. Fifteen people ended up in the hospital with severe symptoms like violent vomiting, stomach cramps, and high fever. The recall eventually expanded to cover the entire United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada. The FDA labeled it a Class 1 recall, which means there was a real chance that eating these carrots could cause serious illness or death.
What’s interesting is that organic produce can actually be riskier when it comes to E. coli contamination. Studies show that organic fruits and vegetables are up to five times more likely to contain E. coli bacteria compared to conventionally grown produce. This doesn’t mean organic food is bad, but it does mean that the way it’s grown and processed requires extra careful handling. The bacteria usually gets on vegetables through contaminated water or animal waste in the soil. After this recall, many people started questioning whether buying organic was really worth the extra money and potential risk.
Dole had to recall salads twice because of listeria
Dole has been involved in multiple listeria scares over the years, with major recalls happening in both 2016 and 2021. During the 2016 incident, bagged salads were pulled from stores in 13 states after listeria was found in two of their facilities. Nineteen people got sick, and all of them ended up in the hospital. One person died from the infection. What made this recall particularly troubling was that Dole officials reportedly knew about the listeria problem as far back as 2014 but didn’t act quickly enough to prevent people from getting sick.
Then in 2021, Dole had to recall salads again for the exact same reason. This time, the recall lasted from October 2021 through January 2022 and affected products in 36 states. Eighteen people got sick across 13 states, with 16 hospitalizations and three deaths. The outbreak wasn’t officially declared over until April 2022. These repeated incidents have made many people nervous about buying bagged salads, especially pregnant women who are at higher risk for serious complications from listeria infections. The CDC now recommends that pregnant people avoid premade deli salads and unwashed produce altogether.
Peaches from Prima Wawona infected over 100 people in 2020
Fresh peaches might seem harmless, but in 2020, they caused a major salmonella outbreak across the country. Prima Wawona, a stone fruit supplier, had to recall both bagged and loose peaches from more than 12 major retailers, including Kroger, Aldi, Walmart, Target, and Wegmans. Unfortunately, the recall came too late for many people who had already eaten the contaminated fruit. Over 100 people got salmonellosis, which is the bacterial infection you get from consuming salmonella. Twenty-eight people ended up in the hospital with serious symptoms.
Salmonella on produce usually happens when irrigation water gets contaminated or when the fruit comes into contact with animal waste during growing or harvesting. Most people who get salmonella will recover after a few days of feeling miserable, but it can be life-threatening for young children, elderly people, and anyone with a weakened immune system. The 2020 peach recall affected products nationwide, which meant that millions of people had to check their fridges and throw away any peaches they’d recently bought. Stone fruits like peaches, plums, and nectarines are generally considered low-risk for foodborne illness, but this outbreak proved that nothing is completely safe.
HMC Farms stone fruits caused another listeria outbreak in 2023
Just a few years after the peach salmonella scare, stone fruits made headlines again. In 2023, HMC Farms in California had to recall fresh peaches, nectarines, and plums because of listeria contamination. The contaminated fruit was sold at major stores like Walmart, Sprouts, and Sam’s Club across 26 states. The recall affected both packaged fruit and individual pieces sold at convenience stores and produce stands. Eleven people got seriously sick from eating the tainted fruit, and one person died. Another infected person who was pregnant went into early labor because of the listeria infection.
This was actually the third listeria outbreak in 2023 alone, which shows just how common these problems have become. Food recalls in America increased by 15% between 2020 and 2024, with many of them related to dangerous bacteria like listeria, salmonella, and E. coli. HMC Farms issued a voluntary recall in November 2023 and told people to check their freezers for any fruit they might have bought earlier in the year and frozen for later use. The problem with listeria is that it can survive even in cold temperatures, so freezing contaminated fruit doesn’t make it safe to eat.
Enoki mushrooms from Sun Hong Foods sickened people in 17 states
Enoki mushrooms have become increasingly popular in American cooking over the past few years, but their quick rise in popularity has come with some serious problems. In 2020, Sun Hong Foods had to recall its enoki mushrooms after more than 30 people got sick with listeria infections across 17 states. The contaminated mushrooms were labeled as “Product of Korea” and were sold at grocery stores, restaurants, and local markets. The FDA interviewed people who got sick and found that they’d all purchased and eaten enoki mushrooms from various locations.
This wasn’t a one-time problem either. Enoki mushrooms caused another listeria outbreak in 2022, which led the FDA to significantly increase testing requirements on imported mushrooms. Enoki mushrooms carry a much higher contamination risk than many other produce items, especially since most of them are imported from overseas. The FDA now recommends that people wash their hands, utensils, and cutting boards thoroughly when preparing dishes with enoki mushrooms. Unlike some other types of mushrooms that can be eaten raw, enoki mushrooms should always be cooked completely before eating to kill any potential bacteria.
Alfalfa sprouts from Sun Sprouts hospitalized 10 people in 2022
Alfalfa sprouts might look healthy and innocent, but they’re actually one of the riskiest produce items you can buy. In late 2022, Sun Sprouts, a Nebraska-based company, had to recall its alfalfa sprouts after they were found to contain salmonella. The contaminated sprouts were sold in small cellophane bags at grocery stores throughout the Midwest. Two months after the first recall, more people got sick, and FDA inspectors found that Sun Sprouts had failed to properly clean and sanitize its harvesting and packing surfaces. Investigators noted “significant filth on the irrigation nozzles” during their inspection, which is exactly as gross as it sounds.
By the time everything was sorted out, 63 people had gotten sick from eating the contaminated sprouts, and 10 people were hospitalized. The problem with alfalfa sprouts is that they’re grown in warm, moist environments that are perfect for bacteria growth, and they’re usually eaten raw. They’ve caused thousands of illnesses over the past decade, which is why the CDC strongly recommends that pregnant people, elderly individuals, and anyone with a weakened immune system avoid them completely. No deaths were attributed to this particular outbreak, but sprouts remain one of the most challenging produce items to grow safely.
These massive produce recalls show that even the healthiest-looking foods can make you seriously sick if something goes wrong during growing, processing, or packaging. The worst part is that many of these disasters could have been prevented if companies had followed proper safety procedures and hadn’t cut corners to save money. While food recalls are becoming more common, staying informed about current recalls and properly washing your produce can help protect you and your family from dangerous contamination.
