How can frozen fruit be contaminated with bad bacteria?

Question

I was just remembering some recalls somewhat recently of big bags of frozen fruit in stores like costco. And i was wondering, how can any bad bacteria survive the freezing long enough to make people sick by the time they buy and eat the fruit? Shouldn’t the freezing process kill practically everything?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Bacteria and viruses can remain alive in permafrost for hundreds of thousands of years. Heat (high enough) can kill them, freezing doesn’t automatically kill them. (Speaking as a former kitchen/food safety manager).

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-09/ancient-viruses-climate-change-global-pandemic-risk/102277398