January 1, Buyer Beware: Packaged Salads Recalled in 19 States

Published

2 years ago

December 24, 2021

Fresh Express has recalled products from 19 states while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigates a deadly outbreak related to the packaged salads that killed at least one person.

The company announced in a press release that products from its factory in Streamwood, Illinois, are potentially contaminated with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. The Michigan Department of Agriculture conducted a random sample and found one packaged salad containing the bacteria.

Recalls were made in the following states: Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Maine, Indiana, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, and Massachusetts.

According to FDA, the recalled products include all use-by-date fresh salad packages with the product codes of Z324 through Z350.

The FDA announced a probe into a “multistate outbreak” linked to the Fresh Express products.

According to FDA Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response Frank Yiannas, ten people infected with the outbreak strain have been reported from eight states while one person has died.

“We will continue to work with our partners and with Fresh Express to determine the source of this outbreak,” Yiannas said. “We remain committed to transparency and providing updates as we learn more during our continuing traceback investigation.”

FDA and @CDCgov, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to Fresh Express packaged salad. https://t.co/HWkGESdnHk pic.twitter.com/DkFXeFEH7L
— U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) December 21, 2021