Driscoll's Strawberries Were Recalled Over Pesticide Concerns
Driscoll's produce has faced some steep obstacles over the past few months. In November 2021, the brand recalled its blueberries in Ontario due to a metal contamination, per the Food Safety Network. And in 2022, Driscoll's faced another produce recall over an issue with its strawberries. According to Eat This, Not That!, the recall took place in the United States, where the strawberries were distributed from centers in California, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Missouri, and Maryland. The recall was issued on January 21, and the strawberries are no longer on store shelves.
"Driscoll's commitment is to ensure that we always provide consumers with the freshest, most flavorful, and completely safe berries," a Driscoll's rep said to Mashed in an emailed statement. "In both incidents, Driscoll's quickly removed berries from the marketplace and customers properly destroyed impacted berries."
If you bought these impacted fruits and stored them in your freezer, make sure to get rid of them or return the items to the grocery store. Producers treated the strawberries with the pesticide Etoxazole and when examined, they "exceeded the government's 'Maximum Residual Limit (MRL)'" for the chemical, per Eat This, Not That!.
Less-than-desirable berries
According to the FDA, the Driscoll's recall is listed as a voluntary recall, and any exposure to the pesticide likely wouldn't warrant a serious reaction, per Eat This, Not That!. But contact with this pesticide can still result in some nasty conditions. The Fluoride Action Network states that acute exposure to this chemical can lead to liver conditions, bone density problems, endocrine system complications, and more. The 2022 recall, classified as a Class III recall, indicates that the amount of pesticide detected on each strawberry shouldn't cause problems on that scale but should still be avoided.
If you think you may have bought these strawberries, make sure you double-check your fridge and dispose of these fruits. However, as Driscoll's explained to Mashed in an emailed statement, the recall is now "terminated," so you're safe to buy any new packages of fresh strawberries the next time you head to the grocery store.