Dole is recalling packaged salads in at least 23 states after discovering epidemiological and laboratory evidence that may be linked to a serious listeria outbreak.
According to the company, 12 people in six different states have already been sickened by the packaged salads—and one person has already died from listeriosis.
The salads causing the deadly sickness have reportedly been traced back to a Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. production facility in Springfield, Ohio.
Although operations at the facility are being suspended for the time being, the contaminated packaged salads have already been sold throughout the U.S., as well as areas in Canada.
States and provinces affected by Dole’s immediate recall are: Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Quebec.
If you’re worried that you may have one of these contaminated salads in your refrigerator, look for the letter “A” at the beginning of the product code, which can be found in the top-right corner of the package.
The company has sold many pre-packaged salads under a number of different brands names, including: Dole, Fresh Selections, Simple Truth, Marketside, The Little Salad Bar, and President's Choice Organics.
Anybody with products affected by Dole’s recall should throw away their contaminated salads as soon as possible.
To speak with someone about how to move forward with the recall, feel free to reach out to the Dole Food Company Consumer Response Center at 800-356-3111.
