Personal Injury Law

Fresh Express Recalls Romaine-based Salads With Use-by Dates of May 13-16th Due to Salmonella Health Risk

By Salmonella Lawyer

From a Fresh Express Press Release:

Fresh Express, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chiquita Brands International, is voluntarily recalling a specific selection of Fresh Express Romaine-based ready-to-eat salads with the expired Use-by Dates of May 13th through May 16th and an "S" in the Product Code because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The recall extends only to products with these Use-by Dates and Product Codes and sold in the following states: Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Nebraska, Montana, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Nevada, Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota. No other Fresh Express salads are included in the recall.

The recall notification is being issued out of an abundance of caution based on an isolated instance in which a single package of Fresh Express Hearts of Romaine Salad with a use by date of May 15 was confirmed positive for Salmonella in a random sample test conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Salmonella is an organism that may cause fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and possibly bloody diarrhea in healthy individuals. It can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Consumers with these symptoms should consult their health care provider.

Because it is still possible that products bearing the Use-by Dates of May 13th -16th and an "S" in the Product Code could be on store shelves, this recall extends to retailers as well as consumers. Fresh Express' experience is that it is highly unlikely that any of the potentially affected salads are still on store shelves or for sale to consumers due to the expired Use-by Dates. Fresh Express believes that it is important to alert consumers who might still possess one of the potentially affected expired salads to immediately dispose of it.

Fresh Express is collaborating closely with FDA and immediately upon learning of the single confirmed positive test completed a companywide product traceability review.

Salads included in the recall notification include the specific selection of Fresh Express Romaine-based salads listed below with Use-by Dates of May 13th through May 16th and an "S" in the Produce Code.

Question, when will they report the illnesses?

Full post as published by Marler Blog on May 24, 2010 (boomark / email).