Ongoing listeria concerns have been causing panic among retailers and customers alike, and it has now spread to more products. Late last year, a list of salad products was recalled.
Listeria is incredibly difficult to get rid of, as it can survive on surfaces for a long time if the correct disinfecting methods aren’t followed. We’ve seen tons of these infections in recent years.
You might be at risk if you regularly buy pre-packaged salads or salad kits. Read on for details on the latest products that have been recalled from store shelves.
Here’s the backstory
Last year’s Dole and Fresh Express salad recall was linked to 32 illnesses and at least three deaths throughout the country. While the companies recalled the affected products as soon as possible, it seems that traces might have been left behind.
The FDA has issued an advisory over Dole Fresh Vegetables, specifically those containing iceberg lettuce and processed at its Ohio and California facilities. Products suspected of being contaminated with listeria have been recalled and should no longer be available for sale at various Kroger, HEB, or Walmart stores.
The FDA said listeria monocytogenes weren’t detected in the finished and packaged products. But after testing from Dole, it was discovered that the bacteria was present on “harvest equipment used in the harvesting of the raw iceberg lettuce.”
What you can do about it
Recalled products should never be consumed, and you must throw them away or return them to the store for a refund. Symptoms of listeria infection can include headaches, loss of balance, and even convulsions.
The recalled products are identified in two different ways:
Processed in Springfield, Ohio, these products have a lot code beginning with the letter “W” and a Best if used by date between Dec. 22, 2021, and Jan. 9, 2022.
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