Urgent Recall: Chicken Salad Linked to Listeria Concerns Affects Four States
According to News Week, Fresh Express Incorporated, based in Salinas, California, has announced a voluntary recall of its 5.75-ounce Gourmet Café Chicken Caesar Salad Bowls after discovering that the chicken used in the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. This bacterium can lead to severe and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in vulnerable populations, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Distribution and Recall Details
The affected salad bowls were distributed across four states: California, Louisiana, Texas, and Washington. The potential contamination issue has been traced back to chicken supplied by BrucePac, which recently issued its own recall due to possible listeria contamination.
Fresh Express has halted sourcing chicken from the implicated BrucePac facility pending further inspections and approval from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Product Identification
Consumers can identify the affected Gourmet Café Chicken Caesar Salad Bowls by the following details:
- Use-by dates: October 26, October 27, October 30, and November 2, 2024
- Package codes: S281, S282, S285, S288
- Universal Product Code (UPC): 071279565620
Only the chicken component of the salad bowls is affected; other ingredients, such as fresh vegetables, remain safe.
Consumer Advisory
Fresh Express advises consumers not to consume the recalled products. Instead, they should dispose of them or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Customers seeking more information can contact Fresh Express at (800) 242-5472 during business hours.
Health Risks Associated with Listeria
Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an infection that poses serious health risks, especially for high-risk groups, which include:
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- Pregnant women
- Newborns
- Adults aged 65 and older
- Individuals with weakened immune systems
In high-risk populations, listeriosis can lead to severe symptoms such as fever, headache, and abdominal pain. In pregnant women, it can result in miscarriage or stillbirth. Healthy individuals may experience mild flu-like symptoms, including nausea and diarrhea. Approximately 1,600 people in the U.S. contract listeriosis annually, with around 260 cases resulting in death. Listeria infections are the third leading cause of death from foodborne illnesses in the country.
Ongoing Food Safety Efforts
The FDA urges consumers to stay informed about ongoing food recalls to minimize the risk of foodborne illnesses. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the BrucePac recall impacts several major grocery chains, including Walmart, Kroger, Target, Amazon Fresh, Aldi, and Trader Joe’s.
For further details on affected products, the Food Safety and Inspection Service has released a 345-page searchable document that includes product labels and additional information to help customers verify the safety of their purchases.
