Salad Recall Issued Due to Possible Listeria Contamination

A potential risk of listeria contamination has resulted in a recall of salad products sold under a variety of popular labels, including Wegmans, Nature’s Promise, and Olivia’s Organics. 

The FDA announced the salad recall for State Garden, Inc. salad mixes on Tuesday. The recall was issued after Rhode Island Department of Health officials found a sample of Northeast Spring Mix Salad on a store shelf to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. However, there have been no illnesses or reports of food poisoning in connection with the salad recall.

Nearly 100 different products are affected by the recalled salad, including spinach, spring mixes, baby arugula, baby romaine and a wide variety of other products. The salads were sold under a number of labels, including Gold Quality, Hannaford/Sweetbay, Nature’s Place, Nature’s Promise, Noreast, Northeast Fresh, Olivia’s Organics, Roche Bros, Signature and Wegmans. Most were sold either in bags or in 7-ounce clamshell packages.

All of the affected products were produced in State Garden’s Chelsea, Massachusetts plant on January 4, 2011 and have track back codes of 45693 and 45703. The track back code numbers will usually be located in the upper right hand corner of labels and bags and the products will have a “best if used by” date no later than January 15, 2011. A complete list of affected products is available in the recall announcement.

The salads were sold in a variety of grocery store franchises, including AP, Stop & Shop, Giant, Shaw’s and Wegmans. Some were also sold by wholesalers.

Listeria infections, also known as listeriosis, pose a particular risk for children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. For pregnant women, illness from Listeria bacteria can cause miscarriages and still births. The fatality rate associated with listeriosis is about 25%.

Blood tests are usually required to diagnose listeriosis, which can be treated with antibiotics. Symptoms of listeriosis include muscle aches, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, severe headaches and fever. If the bacteria spreads from the intestines to the bloodstream and nervous system, it could cause meningitis and other complications.

State Garden recommends that consumers not consume the affected salads and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions can call the company at 1-888-841-6191.