Dole recalls salads from 2 dozen states because of link to Listeria outbreak

Dole Fresh Vegetables announced the recall of all Dole-branded and private label packaged salads processed at its Bessemer City, NC, and Yuma, AZ, processing facilities because of a link to a deadly outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections.

Affected brands include Kroger, Walmart and Lidl, among others.

In addition to the recall Dole is temporarily suspending operations at both facilities to conduct an extensive cleaning and sanitation protocol. Listeria can persist in processing facilities for years, according to public health officials.

The decision to suspend operations and recall all products from these facilities was made after analysis of the strain of Listeria monocytogenes isolated in a package of Dole-branded Garden Salad produced in the Bessemer City facility and a package of shredded iceberg lettuce produced in the Yuma facility. Both of those items were randomly sampled by the state of Georgia and the state of Michigan, respectively, and were a genetic match with a strain of Listeria monocytogenes which FDA and CDC believe is responsible for 16 illnesses .

One case occurred in 2014 and the remaining cases occurred between 2018 and 2021. Of 14 people with information available, 12 have been hospitalized and two died. The sick people are spread across 13 states.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of Dec. 22, Illnesses started on dates ranging from Aug. 16, 2014, to Oct. 17, 2021. There is concern that consumers may have unused portions of some of the salads because they don’t expire until Jan 8, 2022.

Whole-genome sequencing showed that bacteria from sick people’s samples are closely related genetically. This suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from the same food.

Recalled salad items from the Bessemer City facility were distributed in the states of Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Recalled salad items from the Yuma facility were distributed in the states of Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Products subject to the recall are identified by a product lot code beginning with either the letter “N” or “Y” in the upper right-hand corner of the package and will have a “Best if Used By” date between Nov. 30, 2021, and Jan. 8, 2022.

Dole retailers have been advised to check store shelves and warehouse inventories to confirm that no recalled product is available for purchase by consumers.

Consumers who still have any of these products in their refrigerators are urged not to consume the product and to discard it immediately.

Recalled products:

About Listeria infections
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections. Anyone who has eaten any recalled products and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical treatment and tell their doctors about the possible Listeria exposure.

Also, anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products should monitor themselves for symptoms during the coming weeks because it can take up to 70 days after exposure to Listeria for symptoms of listeriosis to develop.

Symptoms of Listeria infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Specific laboratory tests are required to diagnose Listeria infections, which can mimic other illnesses.

Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and people such as cancer patients who have weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of serious illnesses, life-threatening infections, and other complications. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, their infections can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.