The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) both confirmed they are investigating two separate Listeria bacteria outbreaks linked to packaged salads.
Two companies, Dole Fresh Vegetables and Fresh Express, voluntarily recalled packaged salad products in connection to the Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
The CDC said that at least three deaths have been reported in connection to the two outbreaks. One death was associated with Fresh Express’s salad, while two deaths were associated with Dole’s packaged salad, said the agency.
About two-dozen people have been hospitalized nationwide in connection to the Listeria outbreak, officials said.
“Investigators found the outbreak strain of Listeria in two different packaged salads produced by Dole. Investigators are working to determine if additional products may be contaminated,” the CDC wrote.
It’s sold under different brands, including: Ahold, Dole, Kroger, Lidl, Little Salad Bar, Marketside, Naturally Better, Nature’s Promise, and Simply Nature.
Under Dole’s recall, it recommends people not use products if the “best if used by” dates are between Nov. 30, 2021, and Jan. 8, 2022.
Fresh Express’s recall also includes salads made by Bowl & Basket, Giant Eagle, Little Salad Bar, Marketside, O Organics, Signature Farms, Simply Nature, Weis Fresh from the Field, and Wellsley Farms Organic, according to the CDC.
The Fresh Express recall encompasses all “Use-By” dates with product codes with Z324 through Z350.
“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,” the CDC said.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a statement saying that a Listeria infection can cause serious and sometimes fatal disease.
“Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women,” the FDA statement said.
The FDA called on people to discard any salad packages that may be included in the recall.
