Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. Recalls Salad Kits Due to Risk from Listeria Monocytogenes
Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc., is recalling a limited number of Dole-branded and private label salad kits that were processed on the same line as a cheese that has been recalled by the manufacturer, Rizo-Lopez Foods, for the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes, according to a Department of Defense All Food and Drug Activity message sent Feb. 12.
Listeria monocytogenes may cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, the frail or elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. Healthy adults may only suffer short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeria infections may also cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. The illness caused by these bacteria can take up to 70 days to appear. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.
The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) has publicized this recall to all its stores, according to Richard Stith, supervisory consumer safety officer for DeCA Headquarters and Support Center at Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia. Whenever a commissary has recalled or withdrawn products in its inventory, they are immediately removed from store shelves.
The following is a list of products that are affected by this recall.
- Dole Chopped Kit Avocado Ranch: UPC 71430000915, lot code starting with W019- W036 and N019-N036, and best if used by dates of Feb. 3 – Feb. 20
- Dole Chop Kit Avocado Ranch Chop Kit Ranch A L'Avocat: UPC 71430000922, lot code starting with W022- W036, and best if used by dates of Feb. 6 – Feb. 20
- Dole Premium Kit Southwest Salad: UPC 71430017012, lot code starting with W022- W036 and N022- N036, and best if used by dates of Feb. 4 – Feb. 18
- Dole Cajun Ranch Chopped Kit: UPC 71430002063, lot code starting with W029- W036 with a best if used by dates of Feb. 11 – Feb. 18 and lot code N022- N036 with a best if used by dates of Feb. 4 - Feb. 18
- Dole Premium Kit Endless Summer: UPC 71430010730, lot code starting with W022- W036 and best if used by dates of Feb. 4 – Feb. 18 and lot code N023- N036 with a best if used by dates of Feb. 5 - Feb. 19
- Dole Premium Kit Southwest Salad Kit Southwest Salad Supreme Kit Salade Du Sud- Ouest: UPC 71430017111, lot code starting with W020- W036 and best if used by dates of Feb. 3 – Feb. 18
- President's Choice Southwest Salad Kit Sud-Ouest Kit de Salade: UPC 60383023195, lot code starting with W034-W036 and a best if used by date of Feb. 17 – Feb. 18 and B018- B024 and a best if used by date of Feb. 3 – Feb. 9
- Marketside Chopped Salad Kit Bacon Ranch Crunch: UPC: 681131305440, lot code starting with B020- B036 and a best if used by date of Feb. 5 – Feb. 21
Recalled salad items were distributed in the states of Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Additionally, these salads were distributed in the following Canadian provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Quebec.
No other Dole products are part of these voluntary recalls.
Consumers can contact the Dole Consumer Response Center at 800-356-3111, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time.