Dive Brief:
- Dole Fresh Vegetables is recalling four varieties of bagged salads in 15 states and three Canadian provinces because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
- All the products in question have a use by date of March 12, 2014, one day before the recall announcement.
- No illnesses have been reported in association with the recall. The cause for concern arises from a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes in a random sample test of Dole Italian salad conducted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Dive Insight:
The products being recalled are Dole Italian Blend (UPC 7143000819), Fresh Selections Italian Style Blend (UPC 1111091045), Little Salad Bar Italian Salad (UPC 4149811014) and Marketside Italian Style Salad (UPC 8113102780) coded A058201A or B. No other salads are included in the recall.
Aside from the fact that no illnesses have been linked to the products, it is fortunate that the expiration date has passed, which decreases the likelihood of the bagged salads in question being consumed now. No one wants a repeat of the outbreak of Listeria that was linked to unsanitary conditions at Roos Foods, which resulted in a death and serious illnesses in multiple states.