Grinch Steals Christmas Salads

The Grinch who stole Christmas has a new name, and it is Listeria monocytogenes.

Late yesterday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finally posted Food Safety Alerts for two separate outbreaks of Listeria monocytogenes.

Both outbreaks have been traced to contaminated packaged salads.

Both outbreaks have been simmering for years.

Both outbreaks have caused at least one death.

The Fresh Express Outbreak

According to the CDC’s Investigation report, this outbreak began on July 26, 2016, with a cluster of three cases in July and August of that year.

The fourth case occurred in October 2020, followed by the remaining six cases in February, August, September and October 2021.

All ten of the victims of this outbreak were hospitalized and there was one death (a Pennsylvania resident).

From CDC’s Food Safety Alert for Fresh Express outbreak

Illnesses associated with this outbreak were reported from eight states: Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

On December 16, 2021, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development recovered Listeria monocytogenes from a sample of Fresh Express Sweet Hearts Romaine Lettuce Sweet Butter Lettuce during a routine surveillance program. The state issued a Consumer Advisory the following day.

The CDC identified this outbreak after the microbe recovered from the salad sample was genetically typed and matched against genetic profiles contained in the agency’s database.

On December 20, 2021, Fresh Express announced a US recall of branded and private label salad products produced at the company’s Streamwood, Illinois facility.

Brands included in the recall are: 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.

Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Some of the Fresh Express salad products were also distributed in Canada. Please refer to the CFIA recall notice for complete details on the twenty-three items recalled in Canada.

As of today, there have been no reported illnesses in Canada that are linked to the Fresh Express products.

The Dole Fresh Vegetables Outbreak

The first illness in this outbreak occurred in August 2014. After a gap of four years, additional cases began to appear, beginning in September 2018 and continuing through October 2021.

From CDC’s Food Safety Alert for Dole outbreak

In all, sixteen people in thirteen states have been infected with the Dole outbreak strain. Twelve people have been hospitalized and two have died.

States reporting infections in this outbreak include: Idaho, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan (one death), Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin (one death).

The CDC already was aware of this outbreak, having investigated it twice before—in 2019 and again in 2020. But, it had been unable to identify its source. The agency reopened its investigation in November 2021, after receiving reports of four new illnesses caused by the same strain of Listeria monocytogenes.

The link between the illnesses and salad products from Dole Fresh Vegetables was confirmed as a result of testing carried out by the Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

On December 22, 2021, Dole announced a recall of all Dole-branded and private label packaged salads processed at its Bessemer City, NC and Yuma, AZ processing facilities.

Affected brands include: Ahold, Dole, Kroger, Lidl, Little Salad Bar, Marketside, Naturally Better, Nature’s Promise, and Simply Nature.

Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

There does not appear to have been any Canadian distribution of the recalled products.

What Consumers Need to Know

If you were planning to serve a packaged salad with your Christmas dinner, DON’T.

Do not eat any recalled packaged salads.

Throw them away or return them to where you bought them.
Clean your refrigerator, items, and surfaces that may have touched the recalled products. 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 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.

Stay up to date on this outbreak by following CDC on Facebook or Twitter, or by following eFoodAlert

Share the latest outbreak information with your friends and family who are at higher risk of getting sick from Listeria(aged 65 and older, are pregnant, or have a weakened immune system).

Recalls and Alerts: December 21-22, 2021

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Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.

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Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations? Click on the TAINTED menu at the top of the page to read a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital or print copy to your personal library.

United States

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION: FDA, CDC and state and local agencies are investigating an outbreak of ten cases of Listeria monocytogenes illnesses in eight states linked to consumption of Fresh Express Packaged Salad. Fresh Express has recalled multiple brands of packaged salad products (see below).

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION: FDA, CDC and state and local agencies are investigating on outbreak of sixteen cases of Listeria monocytogenes illnesses in thirteen states linked to consumption of packaged salads produced by Dole and sold under multiple brand names. Two people have died. Please see the Dole recall notice, below, for additional information.

Allergy Alert: Dream Pops recalls select Dream Pops Bites products due to undeclared milk. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert: Local Fixe LLC recalls Classic Lasagna Sheets, Soup Noodles, Dinner Rolls, Pie Dough, Squid Ink – Fettucine, and Fresh Flour Tortillas due to undeclared wheat (gluten). Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected lot codes for each product.

Allergy Alert: Joy’s International Foods recalls Joy’s Gourmet Bloody Mary Mix (24-oz bottle; Best by 08-18-2023) due to undeclared soy and fish.

Food Safety Recall: Fresh Express recalls certain varieties of its branded and private label salad products produced at the company’s Streamwood, Illinois facility after one of its products was linked to an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections in eight states (see above). Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall: Dole Fresh Vegetables recalls all Dole-branded and private label packaged salads processed at its Bessemer City, NC and Yuma, AZ processing facilities (Best if Used By dates between November 30, 2021, and January 8, 2022) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Affected salad brands include: Ahold, Dole, Kroger, Lidl, Little Salad Bar, Marketside, Naturally Better, Nature’s Promise, and Simply Nature. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall: HAIFA SMOKED FISH recalls TURBOT COLD SMOKED (8 oz / 227g; Lot #246) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall: RIPPLE FOODS PBC recalls Ripple Dairy-Free. As It Should Be 8g Plant Based Protein (6 x 48 fl oz. bottles/case; Lots YF21250 and YF21251; Best by 3/6/2022 & 3/7/2022, respectively) due to Bacillus cereus contamination. This product was recalled by letter notification only on 11/20/2021 and has only just been posted on the FDA Enforcement Report web page.

Food Safety Recall: Mitsubishi International Food Ingredients, Inc. recalls Yeast Extract Ajirex (15 kg bag in box; Lot AR21B13401; Expiration date Aug 2, 2022; Product number 6225796 205 01M) due to possible Salmonella contamination. This product was recalled by email notification only on 11/29/2021 and has only just been posted on the FDA Enforcement Report web page.

Food Safety Recall: MOTHERS MILK BANK OF NORTH TEXAS recalls Mother’s Milk Bank of North Texas 817-810-0071 Pasteurized Donor Human milk (100 ml / 1.00g/dL protein; Batch #025958-1; Order #ORD0321480) due to foreign matter (piece of glass) contamination. This product was recalled on 11/29/2021 and has only just been posted on the FDA Enforcement Report web page.

FDA Warning Letter: FDA issues Warning Letter to The Famous Lantigue Seafood after an inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility revealed multiple serious violations of the Seafood Hazard Regulations.

FDA Warning Letter: FDA issues Warning Letter to Banner Smoked Fish Inc. after an inspection of the company’s ready-to-eat (RTE) cold- and hot-smoked seafood processing facility revealed multiple instances of Listeria monocytogenes in the production environment and serious violations of the Seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.

Canada

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION UPDATE: PHAC reports 84 confirmed cases of Salmonella Enteritidis infections in British Columbia (36), Alberta (30), Saskatchewan (4), Manitoba (12) and Ontario (2). The outbreak has been linked to Alasko brand frozen whole kernel corn.

Food Safety Recall: Fresh Express Incorporated recalls certain Fresh Express brand salad products due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Finland): Health and Sports Nutrition Group HSNG AB recalls several Walden Farms products due to undeclared sulphites, milk, fish or soya. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert (Ireland): Dunnes Stores recalls Dunnes Stores Green Olives – Greek Green Pitted Olives (275g; Use by 14.01.2022) due to undeclared sulphur dioxide.

Allergy Alert (Italy): C.S.I Compagnia Surgelati Italiana S.p.A. recalls Findus brand Gnocchetti alla Sorrentina (550g; Lots L1319 & 1320; Best before 12/2022) due to undeclared fish and shellfish.

Allergy Alert (Luxembourg): Authorities recall Gaby’s Nudelküche brand Currynudeln / Curry noodles (250g; Best before 15.08.2021, 1.10.2022 & 30.09.2023) due to undeclared mustard.

Allergy Alert (Sweden): Health and Sports Nutrition Group HSNG AB recalls several Walden Farms products due to undeclared sulphites, milk, fish or soya. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert (UK): Bennett Opie Ltd recalls Opies Pickled Walnuts (390g; Batch code L1327; Best before 11/2024) due to undeclared mustard and sulphites.

Allergy Alert (UK): Dunnes Stores recalls Dunnes Stores Green Olives – Greek Green Pitted Olives (275g; Use by 14 January 2022) due to undeclared sulphur dioxide.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Vleeswaren Bruynkens nv recalls Vleeswaren Bruynkens nv brand Mini-boulettes de soupe / Mini soup balls (500g; Lots 4801, 4802, 4803, 4906, 4907 & 4908; Best by 22/12/2021, 23/12/2021, 24/12/2021, 27/12/2021, 28/12/2021 & 29/12/2021) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Allergikost A/S recalls G-Foods Mørkt fuldkornsbrød i skiver (glutenfrit) / Dark, sliced whole-meal bread, gluten-free (500g; Lot 18.03.2022; Best before 18.03.2022) due to mold contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Finland): Lejos Oy recalls Ella’s Kitchen-tuotemerkin tuotetta Banaani-rusina kaurapatukka luomu / Organic Banana-raisin oat bar (25g; Best before 29.03.2022) due to elevated ochratoxin A levels.

Food Safety Recall (France): PAIMPOLDIS recalls charcuterie de campagne Ollivier brand pâté de tête persillé / Head cheese with parsley (Use by 15/12/2021) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Slimane Foie Gras recalls Slimane Foie Gras brand Rillettes de canards / Duck rillettes (180g; Lots 2110 to 2157; All best before dates between 03/08/24 and 08/11/24) due to insufficient heat processing.

Food Safety Recall (France): Slimane Foie Gras recalls Slimane Foie Gras brand Gésier de canard confit / Duck gizzard confit (400g & 800g; Lots 2110 to 2157; All best before dates between 03/08/24 and 08/11/24) due to insufficient heat processing.

Food Safety Recall (France): AVREDIS recalls PONT L’EVEQUE AOP LAIT CRU / Raw cows’ milk cheese (200g; No lot codes) due to E. coli and Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): USSEL DISTRIBUTION LECLERC recalls Pâté basque au piment d’Espelette / Basque pâté with Espelette peppers (No lot code information) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (Australia): House of Biskota recalls Gluten Free Choc Almond Handmade Biscuits (All BEST BEFORE dates from and including 09JUN22 up to and including 07DEC2022) due to undeclared milk.

Recalled salad mix blamed for Listeria monocytogenes outbreak

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), together with state and local partners and the CDC, is investigating an outbreak of ten Listeria monocytogenes illnesses in eight states.

The onset dates for illnesses linked to the outbreak strain range from July 26, 2016 to October 19, 2021.

The outbreak strain is a genetic match for the Listeria monocytogenes recovered from Fresh Express Sweet Hearts salad mix by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARM) during the course of a routine sampling program.

The MDARM issued a Consumer Advisory on December 17, 2021.

In response to the Listeria monocytogenes finding and the outbreak investigation, Fresh Express, Inc. has recalled certain varieties of its branded and private label salad products produced at the company’s Streamwood, Illinois facility.

Fresh Express, Inc. is a division of Chiquita Brands.

Affected brands include: Fresh Express, Giant Eagle, Little Salad Bar, Market District, Marketside, O Organics, Signature Farms, Simply Nature Organic, Weis Fresh From the Field, and Wellsley Farms Organic.

The recall includes all Use-By Dates of fresh salad items with product codes Z324 through Z350. Please refer to the Fresh Express recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

The recalled products were distributed in Connecticut, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.

Some of the recalled products were also exported to Canada. Please refer to the CFIA recall notice for a complete list of affected products, which were sold in Manitoba and Ontario and also may have been distributed in other provinces and territories.

A Repeat Offender

Fresh Express, which has suspended production at its Streamwood facility, has been the source of more than one previous foodborne disease outbreak.

In 2018, more than 500 customers of MacDonald’s in fifteen states were infected with Cyclospora after consuming a packaged romaine lettuce/carrot mix supplied to the restaurant chain by Fresh Express.

In December 2019, Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp Chopped Salad Kits were identified as the source of an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in the United States and Canada.

And on October 20, 2020, the FDA issued a Warning Letter to the company as a result of the agency’s investigation into the source of yet another multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis that was traced back to bagged salad mixes produced at the Streamwood production plant.

On November 10, 2021, the FDA issued a Close-out Letter acknowledging the company’s corrective actions to the violations listed in the October 2020 Warning Letter.

What Retailers Need to Know

Stop serving or selling recalled produce, whether it is fresh or frozen. Produce stored at cold temperatures can be contaminated. Listeria monocytogenes can grow even at refrigerated temperatures.
Keep recalled produce away from other foods and from any equipment, utensils, and linens, among other things.
Determine if cross-contamination with other foods may have happened.
Determine the source of the produce, or the supplier if the source of the fresh/frozen produce is unknown.
Follow the instructions from the source or supplier on how to return or dispose of the recalled produce.
Your employees should wash their hands thoroughly after handling recalled produce.
Wash any clothing and linens that have may be contaminated.

What Consumers Need to Know

Mild symptoms may include a fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. If the more severe form of listeriosis develops, symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.
People infected with L. monocytogenes may start to see symptoms in a few hours or as long as two to three days after eating contaminated food. More severe forms of listeriosis may take anywhere from three days to three months to develop.
Consult your health care provider if you suspect that you or a family member has developed symptoms that resemble a L. monocytogenes infection.
Discard any of the recalled products or return them to the retailer for a refund.
Wash and sanitize any surfaces in your refrigerator or your kitchen that may have come into contact with one of the recalled products.
Canadian consumers should be on the alert for any recall notices issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. In the meantime, do not purchase, serve or eat any of the products listed on the US recall notice.

For more information, members of the public can contact the Fresh Express Consumer Response Center toll-free line at: 800-242-5472