A Listeria outbreak connected to prepackaged salads produced by Dole has left seventeen people sick, thirteen hospitalized, and two dead across thirteen states.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the impacted salads will have “Best if used by” dates from November 30, 2021 through January 9, 2022.
Additionally, the packages will have codes that begin with the following letters B, N, W, or Y in the upper right-hand corner.
The CDC’s website defines Listeriosis as a serious infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.
The recalled products are under the following brands: Ahold, Dole, HEB, Kroger, Lidl, Little Salad Bar, Marketside, Naturally Better, Nature’s Promise, President’s Choice, and Simply Nature.
An investigation into another outbreak involving Fresh Express prepackaged salads is also underway.
On December 20, 2021, Fresh Express issued a recall for all of its products labeled with the codes Z324 through Z350, regardless of their “Use-by date.”
The outbreak linked to Fresh Express resulted in ten people reported ill, ten hospitalizations, and one patient death across eight states.
The brands affected included Fresh Express, Bowl & Basket, Giant Eagle, Little Salad Bar, Marketside, O Organics, Signature Farms, Simply Nature, Weis Fresh from the Field, and Wellsley Farms Organic.
Do not consume the product if it has been identified as a recalled salad; throw the product out. Also, be sure to clean your refrigerator, surfaces, and anything that may have been in contact with the contaminated salad.
Symptoms of Listeriosis include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, in addition to fever and muscle aches.
Those who are pregnant can encounter fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. However, Listeria can cause pregnancy loss or premature birth. It can also cause severe illness or death in newborns.
If you experience any symptoms of Listeriosis, be sure to contact your healthcare provider.