LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is announcing that some types of packaged salad products have been linked to two different listeria outbreaks.
The outbreaks are linked to the products Fresh Express and Dole.
The recall for Fresh Express began on December 20, while the recall by Dole was issued December 22.
Listeria can cause severe illness (known as invasive listeriosis) when the bacteria spreads beyond the gut to other parts of the body.
Symptoms are listed by the CDC as follows:
- Pregnant people, adults 65 years or older, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for severe illness.
- Pregnant people typically experience only fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. However, Listeria infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
- People who are not pregnant may experience headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, in addition to fever and muscle aches.
- Symptoms of severe illness usually start 1 to 4 weeks after eating food contaminated with Listeria but may start as early as the same day or as late as 70 days after.
Listeria can also cause common food poisoning symptoms, like diarrhea and fever.
People who experience these symptoms usually recover without treatment.
Fresh Express Recall –
The recall includes all Use-By Dates with product codes Z324 through Z350, and were produced at a facility in Streamwood, Illinois, since November 20.
Brands include 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.
On December 16, 2021, the Michigan Department of Agriculture identified the outbreak strain of listeria in a bag of Fresh Express Sweet Hearts packaged salad.
Dole Recall –
All Dole products processed at its Bessemer City, NC and Yuma, AZ processing facilities have been recalled, which includes distribution to Michigan.
What to Do –
- Do not eat any recalled packaged salads. Throw them away or return them to where you bought them.
- Follow these five steps to clean your refrigerator, containers, and surfaces that may have touched the recalled packaged salads. Listeria can survive in the refrigerator and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have these symptoms of Listeria infection after eating packaged salads.
- Pregnant people usually experience only fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. However, Listeria can cause pregnancy loss or premature birth. It can also cause serious illness or death in newborns.
- People who are not pregnant may experience headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, in addition to fever and muscle aches.
At this time, 10 people are confirmed to have fallen ill due to this outbreak, including one in Michigan.
One death was reported in Pennsylvania, according to investigation details.
For more on this outbreak, click here.
