People in Newfoundland and Labrador are responding to the recall of blueberry plants sold at Costco in St. John’s in June and July, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
The recall was announced Aug. 3 and was necessary, as the plants had the potential to carry the tiny blueberry maggot, a pest not present to date in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The maggots affect both lowbush and highbush blueberry varieties, and are described as a “significant pest” for blueberries in Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and southern areas of Ontario and Quebec. They pose no risk to human health, but larvae will consume the pulp of the berries, causing berries to collapse.
“The majority of the recalled plants have been returned and Costco reports that customers are continuing to bring them in daily,” stated an emailed response from the CFIA, to questions from the Telegram this week.
The CFIA did not confirm the exact number of plants covered by the recall.
In response to follow-up questions, the agency did say that at last report 82 per cent of the plants involved in the case had been recovered, but Costco would have to state exact plant numbers. A call to Costco was directed to an Ottawa office but a message left Friday morning did not receive a response before deadline.
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Blueberry plants sold by Costco in St. John’s recalled
Apart from tracking response to the recall, the CFIA states follow-up is ongoing with the people and companies involved with the shipment, “to ensure that it does not reoccur.”
As stated in the original CFIA recall notice, the plants were shipped from a nursery in Quebec without being properly certified. There’s no guarantee they carry blueberry maggot, but the concern is the lack of certification, as per the regulations under the Plant Protection Act and a CFIA plant health directive for the prevention of the spread of blueberry maggot.
“Regulated parties — which would include the nursery where the blueberry plants originated in this instance — are responsible for complying with all relevant legislative requirements. When non-compliance with the CFIA’s legislation is identified, the agency investigates and takes appropriate action on a case-by-case basis,” stated the CFIA response to questions this week.
The name of the nursery involved was not released, but The Telegram was told it was a nursery in the Montérégie region in southwest Quebec, an area of over 11,000 square kilometres, known for its agriculture. A Costco notice to members does include the logo of a garden centre from that area, but the name was not confirmed.
The recall remains in place and Costco customers who purchased blueberry plants at the St. John’s store are still asked to return the plants in their original pot, placed in a double bag.
If the plants are in the ground, you’re being asked to dig them out, with the roots and any the soil from the original pot, then double bag the works and return to the store.
For more information on alternate disposal and drop-off locations, call the CFIA at 709-772-4424 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Newfoundland Standard Time, Monday to Friday.
