Bacteria found in strawberry smoothies

Tainted frozen strawberries may have been served at Jamba Juice locations in Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and Huntington Beach, but company representatives said all smoothies now being served are safe to drink.

The berries, which came from Jamba Juice supplier Cleugh’s Frozen Foods in Salinas, Calif., could have been contaminated with listeria monocytogenes, a potentially dangerous bacteria, according to news releases from the company. Berries from the supplier were shipped to stores across California, Arizona and southern Nevada.

An open letter Tuesday from Paul Clayton, chief executive of Jamba Juice, says his company has received no confirmed reports of illness from the berries. The company has set up a program to offer free testing for the disease, and anyone who drank a strawberry smoothie at an affected store between Nov. 25 and Dec. 1 now experiencing cold- or flu-like symptoms should call (877) 464-5689 as well as see a doctor. The company will also pay for treatment of any confirmed case, according to a news release.

Listeria monocytogenes causes fever, muscle aches, nausea or diarrhea in people with normal immune systems. It can be much more serious, even deadly, in the very young, the very old, and people with compromised immune systems. Those groups should also watch for headaches, a stiff neck, loss of balance and confusion. Pregnant women are also at risk, as the infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths.

Jamba Juice published a list of possibly affected stores on its website. It lists two stores in Costa Mesa: one at the Metro Pointe shopping center at 901-D South Coast Drive, and another at 1835 Newport Blvd. It lists one store in Newport Beach, at 4341 MacArthur Blvd. Huntington Beach had two stores receive possibly dangerous berries, at 7821 Edinger Ave. and 101 Main St.

A company spokeswoman said that Jamba Juice employees have disposed of all possibly dangerous berries and that it is safe to drink strawberry smoothies from the stores.