Anticipating a flavor boost from your pre-washed broccoli florets from Walmart? Too bad, it's a bacterial bombshell instead. The slimy little customer responsible for your dinner distress is called Listeria, and it has compelled a whopping broccoli recall across 20 states.

Marketside Broccoli Florets - a 12-ounce, ready-to-eat bag, presumably set to make your life easier (not endanger it) - are being retracted due to the potential threat of Listeria contamination. Fancy getting your greens with a side of bacteria? We thought not.

Our sneaky bacterial buddy was discovered by the Texas Department of State Health Services during a routine check-up in the Lone Star State. As of the New Year, no horror stories about people getting sick have surfaced. But better safe than sorry, right?

Now, time for the detective work. The offending vegetable bags carry a UPC code of 6 81131 32884 (you'll find it on the back), a 'Best if Used by' date of Dec. 10, 2024(and a Lot Code of BFFG327A6. Thankfully, these bags of bacterial joy aren't lurking in your store aisles anymore. But if you've already snagged one, take heed.

Got some of this broccoli chilling in your fridge? Then it's time for a yellow alert. The FDA's thrown a recall notice into the ring, signaling those with the contaminated florets at home. If you're one of the 'lucky' few, chuck it or return it for a full refund. Got queries or complaints? Braga Fresh is all ears at 877-456-7445 or [email protected].

A crash course on our bacterial antagonist: Listeria. Typically a resident of soil, water, and certain animals, this unscrupulous critter can invade your food during processing. And no, your trusty refrigerator won't kill it. Thorough cooking to a safe temperature is your only guard.

Listeria can get nasty within 24 hours of consumption, lasting up to three days. While it might masquerade as a mild, flu-like malaise in healthy individuals, older adults, pregnant people, and those with compromised immune systems need to be vigilant. Severe symptoms can range from a stiff neck and confusion to loss of balance and convulsions, showing up to seventy days post-exposure.

In the end, the moral of the story? Do your homework before you dive into that bag of Marketside Broccoli Florets from Walmart. If it’s tagged as recalled, don’t even think about it. Send it packing back to the store or learn to love your trashcan. Listeria is just not worth the heartache (or bellyache).