Though illnesses related to this outbreak began in July 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have just recently determined the source.
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There’s no evidence to suggest that packaged salads produced at other Dole facilities are affected.
Dole said none of its other facilities have been linked to the listeria outbreak.
“CDC recommends that consumers do not eat, restaurants do not serve, and retailers do not sell packaged salads produced at the Dole processing facility in Springfield, Ohio”, the outbreak announcement states.
At least one outbreak of the life-threatening bacterial infection has been recorded every year since 2011, primarily linked to prepackaged foods and dairy products, according to the agency’s website.
“Other Dole products, including fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and packaged salads from Dole’s other processing facilities (with product codes beginning with the letters “B” or “N”), are not part of this voluntary withdrawal”, the company said. Lab tests performed on clinical isolates from all 12 ill people have shown that the isolates are highly related genetically.
Listeria is a form of bacteria that causes the gastrointestinal disease listeriosis. The packed salads are sold under several brand names such as Dole, Simple Truth, The Little Salad Bar, Fresh Selections, President’s Choice and Marketside.
“As soon as supermarkets are aware of the products that are affected they’ll take those products off the shelves”, he said.
Giant said the recall affects Dole’s Very Veggie 12-ounce package, and its Chopped Sesame Asian Kit, 13.6-ounce package.
Those who are at highest risk of serious illness, according to Health Canada, include pregnant women and unborn or newborn children, adults 65 and over, and people with weakened immune systems. The CDC said it linked the outbreak to the Dole salads this month after OH agriculture officials found listeria in a bag bought at a retail location. The bacteria in the packaged salads sickened residents of Indiana, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and MA, the CDC reported.
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The person who died from the outbreak was from MI. Vegetables can become contaminated from the soil or from manure used as fertilizer.
