Salad Recalls From Bacteria Concerns Broaden Across US States

Romaine lettuce is shown in a file photo. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Michigan-based retail chain Meijer is recalling certain salad items due to bacterial contamination concerns as part of a broader recall made by another company a few days earlier.

“Meijer, in conjunction with its supplier, Revolution Farms, is announcing a voluntary recall of select Fresh From Meijer premade salads because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes,” according to an April 10 announcement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In total, 12 items are being recalled by the company. The recalled items have a “Fresh from Meijer” sticker on a clear plastic container.

The announcement advises customers who have purchased any of these products to “immediately throw them away.” Customers can request a full refund for the recalled items at their nearest Meijer store.

“The recall is part of a broader Revolution Farms lettuce recall and includes pre-made salads carried at Meijer stores in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, and Wisconsin. Meijer is not aware of any illnesses from Meijer brand salad products included in this recall,” the announcement stated.

On April 5, Revolution Farms announced a voluntary recall of certain products packaged between March 3 and 11 owing to concerns about contamination. On April 6, the company expanded the recall to include all products under its brand.

The recall was expanded after the product was epidemiologically linked with a listeriosis outbreak in multiple states.

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria that is capable of causing serious and even fatal infections in young children, elderly people, and individuals with weakened immune symptoms.

Healthy individuals may only suffer short-term symptoms like nausea, severe headache, diarrhea, stiffness, and high fever. Among pregnant women, listeria infections can end up causing stillbirths and miscarriages.

Listeria Outbreaks

So far this year, the FDA has listed 11 product recalls from various companies due to potential contamination of listeria bacteria. This includes items like salad kits, lettuce, smoked salmon, snack bars, cocktail shrimp, enoki mushrooms, and ready-to-eat sandwiches and wraps.

According to data from the CDC, there were five investigations of multistate listeria outbreaks last year.

One of the outbreaks was linked to ice creams, one to brie and camembert cheese, another to deli meat and cheese, a fourth to enoki mushrooms, and the final outbreak to an unknown source.

In February, the CDC announced a 10-state listeria outbreak after 11 people got sick and 10 ended up hospitalized. Michigan had reported two cases, with one case each in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Washington.

Those who were sick from the infection were between the ages of 47 and 88, with eight out of 11 being women. The outbreak is linked to listeria going back several years. Officials did not identify the specific food responsible for the situation. Patient samples collected by the agency dated back to July 2018.

Precaution

The CDC advises people who are aged 65 and above, have a weakened immune system, or are pregnant to immediately call their health care provider if they develop certain symptoms.

Among pregnant individuals, such symptoms include muscle aches, tiredness, and fever. These symptoms can also manifest among those with weakened immune systems and the elderly. In addition, this group can also experience stiff neck, loss of balance, confusion, seizures, and headaches.

“If you are sick with Listeria, local or state health officials may contact you to find out what you ate in the month before you got sick. They may also ask for copies of receipts, your shopper card number, or leftover food for testing,” the agency says.