Warning Issued on Avocado Pulp

Avocado pulp products distributed principally to ethnic Mexican restaurants in four Southern California counties, including Orange County, may be contaminated by a bacteria that can cause a serious and sometimes fatal food poisoning, authorities said Friday.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned that customers should not eat and restaurants should not serve certain avocado pulp distributed by G Products or T & G Sales, both San Diego companies.

The FDA said the avocado pulp from G Products was distributed mainly to small Mexican-style fast-food restaurants in Orange, Riverside, Los Angeles and San Diego counties.

T & G Sales distributed the bulk avocado pulp, principally to small Mexican-style fast-food restaurants in San Diego County, from November to January. If frozen, the products have a shelf life of three to four months, the FDA said.

The FDA said the avocado products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that can cause serious and sometimes fatal food poisoning in young children, the elderly and people who have weakened immune systems, such as AIDS or cancer patients.

Listeria infection in pregnant women can cause miscarriages or stillbirths. For healthy people, the infection can cause headache, high fever, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

No illnesses linked to the recalled products have been reported, the FDA said.

G Products is recalling three lots of its product, and T & G Sales was issued a warning letter by the FDA on Feb. 1, the agency announced.

The G Products bulk avocado pulp is packaged in sealed, six-pound clear plastic bags. The label identifies it as “G Products Brand 100% Haas Avocado Pulp” or “Chunky style.” The date codes on the labels read “DEC 05 2000,” “JAN 17 2001,” or “JAN 30 2001.”

The T & G Sales bulk avocado is packaged in sealed, six-pound clear plastic bags and 25-pound plastic pails.

Listeria bacteria was detected during routine testing by the FDA at the time the products were imported. The importer was told by the FDA to hold the lots and not distribute them. However, the products were distributed without an FDA approval, the agency said.

Restaurants that may have purchased avocado products from G Products or T & G Sales should check their inventories and discontinue use, the FDA said.

Restaurant operators or consumers with questions can call G Products at (619) 295-7910 and T & G Sales at (619) 232-9020 or (619) 778-4957.