Sam’s Club Chicken Ceasar Salad Kit Recall: Listeria Risk

More than 90,000 pounds of fully cooked chicken used in Sam’s Club Chicken Caesar Salad Kits are being recalled, after government health officials confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogens, a serious and sometimes fatal infection. 

The Sam’s Club Chicken Caesar Salad Kits recall was announced by the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on August 21, after random sample testing by the Michigan Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of listeria contamination.

Although no reports of listeria food poisoning have yet been linked to the recalled chicken, eating the recalled caesar salad kits may pose a serious risk for young children, the elderly, women and those with a weakened immune system.

The recall includes 92,657 pounds of 11 ounce clear plastic containers and 6.5 pound boxes of APPA Fine Foods/Sam’s Club Daily Chef Chicken Caesar Salad Kits with case codes 141851, 141922, 141951, 141991, 142021, 142201 or 142131. The products were produced by the California based manufacturer on July 4, July 11, July 14, July 18, July 21, July 25, August 1, and August 8, 2014 and have a “Use By” dates of 8/14/2014, 8/21/2014, 8/27/2014, 9/3/2014, or 9/17/2014. The packages the products were shipped in also bear the establishment number “P-21030” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The affected chicken products being recalled were produced by APPA Fine Foods, of Corona, California. They were shipped nationwide for retail sale in Sam’s Club in-store Café’s.

Original testing by the Michigan Department of Agriculture found two random samples contained the bacteria that may cause listeria infections. However, upon a bulk warehouse chain inspection, Sam’s Club identified that  only the chicken products contained the contamination, but the sampled quantity has not been released in official documents.

Listeria infections may result in symptoms such as nauseam muscle, ache, diarrhea, fever, and fatigue. In severe cases for the elderly and young children, the bacteria could spread through the bloodstream to the nervous system resulting in sometimes fatal infections. For pregnant women, listerosis can pose a risk of miscarriages, still births, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn.

The FSIS is asking customers who believe they may have consumed the potentially contaminated chicken caesar products to be alert for any symptoms and to consult with their healthcare provider as soon as possible if symptoms arise. The agency is also alerting consumers that they may not experience symptoms immediately following consumption. Sometimes reports of illness may take up to two months past the time of consumption due to the time it takes for patients to experience symptoms and get a diagnosis.

Customers are being asked to return the chicken Caesar products to their Sam’s Club of purchase. Customers with additional questions or concerns may contact APPA Fine Foods at 951-547-8111 or contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854.