Jars of organic applesauce are being recalled because the product may contain high levels of mold.
Grocery store company Wakefern Food Corp. is voluntarily recalling one of its jarred organic applesauce products after routine testing showed it contained elevated levels of patulin, a toxin that develops on moldy or bruised apples.
Specifically, the recall affects 23-ounce jars of Wholesome Pantry Organic Unsweetened Apple Sauce, which was sold in Wakefern stores like ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace and Fairway Market.
However, the recall only affects Wholesome Pantry applesauce with one UPC code and one best-by date, according to a recall notice posted to the Food and Drug Administration website.
Here’s what to know about the recalled applesauce and what to do if you bought some.
Which Applesauce Products Are Being Recalled?
The organic applesauce recall affects only one product, which has a specific UPC code and best-by date:
- Wholesome Pantry Organic Unsweetened Apple Sauce
- Sold in 23-ounce plastic jar containers
- UPC Code 04119005677
- Best-by date of June 16, 2027
Where Was the Recalled Applesauce Sold?
The applesauce included in this recall was sold in these Wakefern grocery stores:
- ShopRite
- Price Rite Marketplace
- The Fresh Grocer
- Gourmet Garage
- Fairway Market
The recall notice does not call out specific states where the products were sold. But the company’s website notes that Wakefern operates grocery stores in:
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
Why Is the Applesauce Being Recalled?
The applesauce was recalled after routine FDA testing showed it contained elevated levels of a compound linked to mold.
The compound, called patulin, is a type of toxin that grows naturally on fruit, grain and cheese, the FDA explains. It’s known to develop on bruised apples, the agency says, and it can find its way into applesauce or apple juice when companies use that moldy fruit to make their products.
For instance, in March 2025, Martinelli’s recalled more than 7,000 cases of its apple juice after one lot of the product showed high levels of patulin.
Pasteurization does not eliminate patulin, but fermentation can, the FDA says, which is why patulin isn’t typically found in vinegar or alcohol products made with apples.
If ingested, high levels of patulin can cause nausea and vomiting. It may also damage the DNA in some cells in the body, the FDA says. To date, there have been no reports of illness associated with the applesauce recall, the notice says.
What to Do If You Purchased Recalled Applesauce
If you have any of the recalled applesauce, you should not consume it.
“Customers who purchased the recalled product can return it to the store for an immediate refund or replacement,” Maureen Gillespie, a spokesperson for Wakefern Food Corp, said in the recall notice.