FDA Says to Throw Out Those Salad Memories
Technically rinsing lettuce or other greens and preparing them for a salad is easy and even time-consuming, but when it’s 7:00 pm and you’re tired and still need to dine on the table, a bagged salad can come in handy. That is, unless it is potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes , which can cause infections with symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
That’s why Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. announced the voluntary withdrawal of some of its “salad-in-a-bag” proposals, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) . Here’s how to tell if your fridge has greens.
Dole bagged salads are included in the review
According to the FDA, there have been no reported illnesses to date with the recalled lettuce. In this case, a precautionary recall was issued because one garden lettuce sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes in a random sample test conducted by the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
The affected products have been distributed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia , the FDA reports .
Each of the four recalled products are pouch salads labeled “garden salad,” but sold under different brands in different stores:
24 oz Dole Garden Vegetable Salad
- Lot Codes: N28205A and N28205B
- UPC code: 0-71430-01136-2
- Best used: 10-25-21
24 oz Classic Salad
- Lot Codes: N28205A and N28205B
- UPC code: 6-81131-32895-1
- Best used: 10-25-21
- Sold at Walmart
12 oz Kroger Signature Garden Salad
- Lot Codes: N28211A and N28211B
- UPC code: 0-11110-91036-3
- Best used: 10-25-21
- Sold by Kroger and other retailers in their family of companies including Fry’s, Pick ‘n Save and Ralphs.
12oz Lettuce Classic Garden Salad
- Lot Codes: N28211A and N28211B
- UPC code: 6-88267-18443-7
- Best used: 10-25-21
- Sold at Stop & Shop
The batch code and expiration date are located in the upper right corner of the bag, while the UPC code is located in the lower left corner of the back of the bag. The good news is that since these products have expired, they should no longer be sold in stores.
What to do if you bought a recalled salad
If you have any of the recalled salads in the refrigerator, the FDA says you should “not eat it, rather throw it away.” While the recall announcement does not provide any information on how to get a refund for your bagged salad purchase, you can start by contacting the retailer you bought it from.
If they cannot help, please contact the Dole Consumer Care Center at 1-800-356-3111. The Consumer Center is open 24 hours a day, according to the FDA announcement, but Dole’s website states that it is only open from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM PT Monday through Friday.