Moonlight Companies has issued a recall announcement for Moonlight Companies covering California-grown yellow and white peaches due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The recall includes Fresh peaches and Kroger Yellow Peaches distributed across the United States, prompting an alert to customers noting possible health risks.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (also referred to as the Food and Drug Administration) released details on October 30, 2025, confirming the recall impacts products sold from September 16 to October 29, 2025. The affected peaches were packaged in plastic clamshells, plastic bags, or cardboard crates, sold individually with PLU stickers or in multi packs and individual packs. The recall excludes any fruit labeled “Washington”, “Organic”, or produced under Trader Joe’s or Food Lion store brands.
What Triggered the Listeria Contamination Alert
The Listeria contamination was discovered in the packing facility environment, prompting immediate action by Moonlight Companies. The company reported that Listeria monocytogenes bacteria were detected during routine quality checks. This microorganism poses serious health risks, especially for pregnant women, elderly people, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Listeria can lead to foodborne illness that causes abdominal pain, severe headache, nausea, fever, and even fatal infections in vulnerable populations. It can also result in miscarriage or premature birth for expecting mothers.
FDA’s Official Recall Publication
The Food and Drug Administration published the official notice the day after the company’s recall announcement for Moonlight Companies. It detailed that affected white and yellow peaches could be identified through specific PLU stickers, lot codes, lot numbers, and UPC codes printed on packaging. Consumers were urged to discontinue use and dispose of or return products immediately.
The recall notice explicitly stated:
“Consumers who have this product should discontinue use immediately and return it to the place of purchase or discard it.”
The company provided a hotline 855-215-5017 for consumers seeking more information. The line operates Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, to ensure consumer safety and help customers identify affected yellow peaches and white peaches.
Understanding Listeria Monocytogenes and Its Health Impact
Listeria monocytogenes is among the most dangerous bacteria found in contaminated foods. Unlike many pathogens, it thrives in cold environments, making refrigerated fruits such as Fresh peaches particularly vulnerable. Once ingested, it can cause foodborne illness that affects the bloodstream and nervous system.
Common symptoms include abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and severe headache. For pregnant women, the infection can cross the placenta and harm the fetus. For elderly people and those with compromised immune systems, Listeria exposure may lead to fatal infections or long-term complications.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges anyone experiencing these symptoms after consuming recalled peaches to seek immediate medical attention.
Products Included in the Recall
The recall involves the following California-grown yellow and white peaches sold under different labels:
- Moonlight White Peaches
- Moonlight Yellow Peaches
- Kroger Yellow Peaches
- Some stock distributed to Fred Meyer, Food Lion, and King Soopers grocery chain locations
Packaging formats included plastic clamshells, plastic bags, and cardboard crates, some labeled with stickers with PLU numbers that match the lot numbers published in the FDA report. Affected shipments reached customers in states such as North Carolina, South Carolina, Rhode Island, and the District of Columbia.
The recall extends throughout the United States, with distribution confirmed by several major retailers. Customers in all 50 states are advised to verify fruit labels and discontinue use of any suspect produce.
Moonlight Companies’ Response
In the company’s official statement, Moonlight Companies explained that the Listeria monocytogenes was found during an environmental inspection of their California facility. Out of caution, they voluntarily removed all potentially affected Fresh peaches, emphasizing that no illnesses have been reported to date.
The company is actively cooperating with the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to trace the origin of the Listeria contamination and enhance facility hygiene. The recall covers both white and yellow peaches sold nationwide.
Health Risks and Consumer Guidance
While no cases have been confirmed, Listeria infections can appear up to 70 days after exposure. That means consumers who recently purchased or consumed yellow peaches from Kroger, Moonlight Companies, or associated grocery chains should stay alert for symptoms of foodborne illness.
Consumers are advised to:
- Dispose of any potentially affected white and yellow peaches.
- Sanitize any surfaces or utensils that came into contact with the fruit.
- Verify lot codes, lot numbers, or PLU stickers on recent purchases.
- Contact Moonlight Companies at 855-215-5017 for recall details.
- Visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website for updates.
Consumers should also be cautious with other perishable items stored near recalled produce, such as frozen spinach, which has been subject to separate contamination events in the past.
Broader Implications of the Recall
Although Moonlight Companies initiated the recall voluntarily, such incidents highlight ongoing challenges in food production and packaging. Cross-contamination in multi packs, handling of foreign matter, and risks involving plastic pieces or metal fragments can compromise product safety even in modern facilities.
This recall follows a growing list of nationwide alerts involving various grocery suppliers from Trader Joe’s frozen foods to King Soopers and Fred Meyer produce recalls. The Food and Drug Administration has also recently tracked recalls for Basmati rice, Heavy metals, and even unrelated consumer products like the SKELETON WAX CANDLE RECALL.
Legal and Regulatory Context
Although Moonlight Companies has not been named in any class action lawsuits yet, food contamination cases frequently evolve into litigation when health risks or medical costs arise. Jake Jordan and Iuliia Burmistrova, consumer safety advocates, noted that prior recalls involving Heavy metals and foreign matter eventually led to lawsuits seeking damages for negligence and poor oversight.
The Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to investigate the Listeria contamination source. Should evidence reveal systemic negligence or repeated lapses, affected consumers may have grounds to join or initiate class action lawsuits.
Comparison to Previous Food Safety Incidents
Earlier this year, Kroger faced a class action lawsuit alleging failure to disclose Heavy metals in its Basmati rice. Similar legal action could follow this Listeria monocytogenes outbreak if future cases of illness emerge.
Previous Listeria recalls linked to frozen spinach, plastic pieces, and metal fragments illustrate that consumer safety depends heavily on proactive facility maintenance and transparent communication.
For Moonlight Companies, quick response and collaboration with federal agencies may help prevent escalation but it also underscores the need for constant testing and stronger accountability standards across the United States food industry.
Ongoing Monitoring by Regulators
Both the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are maintaining oversight on the recall investigation. They are testing additional California-grown yellow and white peaches from different lot codes to determine whether contamination spread beyond the initial batch.
Officials are also coordinating with state agencies in North Carolina, South Carolina, and other regions where large grocery retailers operate, ensuring affected plastic clamshells and multi – packs are removed from store shelves.
What Consumers Should Do Next
If you’ve recently purchased Fresh peaches or Kroger Yellow Peaches, you can take the following steps:
- Review lot numbers and PLU stickers listed in the official Food and Drug Administration recall notice.
- Check if your retailer such as Trader Joe’s, Food Lion, Fred Meyer, or King Soopers was part of the affected distribution.
- If your peaches fall under the recall, discontinue use immediately and discard safely.
- Clean all surfaces with antibacterial solutions to remove traces of Listeria monocytogenes.
- Stay alert for foodborne illness symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, or severe headache, especially if you are pregnant, elderly, or have weakened immune systems.
Consumers in the District of Columbia, Rhode Island, and other smaller markets are advised to check local grocery chain notices or separate email alert systems that may list affected stores.
Why Food Recalls Matter
Food recalls like this highlight the importance of consumer safety oversight. Whether it’s Moonlight Companies, Trader Joe’s, or another grocery chain, any potential contamination represents a serious threat to public health. Early detection, transparent communication, and regulatory intervention prevent widespread outbreaks and save lives.
The recall of California-grown yellow and white peaches shows how even a localized contamination event can quickly expand to affect the entire United States market. Every consumer plays a role in protecting public health by staying informed and checking recall databases regularly.
About Ted Law
At Ted Law Firm,We serve families across Aiken, Anderson, Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, North Augusta and Orangeburg. we track recalls, regulatory alerts, and emerging class action lawsuits that affect public safety. Whether the issue involves Heavy metals, foreign matter, or Listeria monocytogenes, our goal is to keep consumers informed about their rights and options when negligence puts lives at risk.Contact us today for a free consultation.
