A Listeria monocytogenes outbreak in the United States associated with bagged salad has concerned many people. At least 12 people in the U.S. have been sickened in this outbreak. All of them have been hospitalized.
Dole recalled certain packaged salad products made in its Springfield, Ohio facility. Only products with product codes starting with an “A” have been affected.
If you purchased Dole salads, here’s what to do. First, check your refrigerator to see if you have the recalled products. The salads can be identified by the letter “A” at the beginning of the manufacturing code found on the package. That code is underneath the “enjoy by” date. The recalled salads were all packaged at the Dole processing facility in Springfield, Ohio. There is no evidence “at this time” to suggest that packaged salads produced at other Dole facilities are linked to illness.
The salads were sold under the following names: Dole, Fresh Selections, Simple Truth, Marketside, The Little Salad Bar, and President’s Choice. The recalled salads were sold in these States: Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin. In Canada, the salads were sold in Ontario, New Brunswick, and Quebec.
Those sickened in the United States live in Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The dates of Listeria specimen collection in those patients range from July 5, 2015 to December 23, 2015. This outbreak has been going on for a long time. And listeriosis, the illness caused by this bacteria, can take up to 70 days to appear after first exposure, complicating the investigation.
Pregnant women who have eaten the recalled salads may think about contacting their physicians about this outbreak and recall. Listeriosis can be very serious for pregnant women, and can cause miscarriage and stillbirth. Some doctors give prophylactic doses of antibiotics to their patients who may have been exposed to Listeria monocytogenes.
If you did purchase this product, and ate it, monitor yourself for the symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes food poisoning for the next 70 days, since symptoms can be delayed for that long. Those symptoms include flu-like fever and muscle aches, upset stomach or diarrhea, stiff neck, headache, loss of balance, confusion, and convulsions. If you do experience these symptoms, see your doctor and tell him you ate this recalled product.
If you purchased this product and it is in your home, throw it away immediately. The salad should be placed in a closed plastic bag in a sealed trash can, so other people and animals can’t eat it. Wash your hands well with soap and water. Then wash the refrigerator drawer, or anyplace the salad was stored, with a mild bleach solution. Listeria bacteria can grow at refrigerator temperatures, so it’s important that your appliance be thoroughly cleaned.
Any cutting boards, surfaces, or utensils that came into contact with the salad should be washed as well. A dishwasher is the best way to sanitize utensils. Otherwise, use hot water and soap, following by a sanitizing solution of one tablespoon chlorine bleach to one gallon of hot water. Then wash your hands again.
I purchased Dole chopped Romaine lettuce from Sam’s Club on Jan 14, 2016. The manufacturer code was A00500709:21. I ate this product on Jan 15, 16, 17, 18, & 19. I became ill with severe diarrhea for 6 days, starting on the evening of Jan 19th. I thought maybe I had a flu or something. On the evening of Friday, Jan 22nd, I saw on the news that people were getting sick from Dole lettuce. I went to the CDC website and found that any bags with the letter A, would have come from the Ohio plant. I checked the product that I had been eating, and found it had the letter A. I contacted my primary care doctor the following day, and I was told to come in that day. The doctor only had me give stool samples to rule out other things, but no bloodwork was done. Since my diarrhea finally went away after 6 days, the doctor said not to worry, that most likely this has passed through my system. They said that this mostly affects pregnant women, causing kidney failure. By the way, I live in Illinois, and I haven’t seen anything related to Illinois, but there must be others out there like me. I received a letter from Sam’s Club that I purchased a bagged lettuce product that is potentially contaminated with Listeria, to bring them the bag and they will reimburse me. Obviously I disposed of the bag, but did take a photo of the bar code and manufacturer label; and I have cut out the manufacturer label and put it in a plastic bag. Seems like this problem is being under reported.
Hi Donna, I’m so sorry you got sick. Six days is still a long time to be sick. Make sure you keep an eye on your health and talk to your doctor about any more problems.
Yes, the recalled salads were sold in Illinois, according to the FDA. But you are correct that they may have been sold in other states as well.
I live in Delaware and purchased a bag of romaine lettuce (Dole) from Sam’s Club at the beginning of January. The family ate half the bag and I threw away the rest a week later. I just got a mailing from Sam’s Club that I might have purchased salad that was recalled. I am writing to see if the recall is now extended to Delaware as I do not have the bag any longer.
Hi, the FDA has not listed your state as one that received the recalled salads, but in their latest update they state “The recalled salads are known to have been distributed to the following states, though there may have been further distribution to other states,” so it’s entirely possible.
On January 20, 2016 I purchased Dole Chopped Romaine from Superstore in our area(Amherst, Nova Scotia) with an expiry date of January 27, 2016. I consumed approximately 1 cup on January 22nd and did not feel good after consumption and well into the next few days. I experienced severe headaches for a few days along with cramps but no other symptoms surfaced and assumed I had not had romaine for quite a while so assumed the extra fiber was the culprit. It was later that I learned of the Dole recall and have the one noted in the recall starting with A. I suffer from auto immune disease, am diabetic and experienced an allergic reaction prior to eating the Dole product so wish to know if I have reason to be concerned or should be tested for listeria – considering. Your advice would be greatly appreciated.
Hi, please call your doctor and tell her about your symptoms. She will know if you need to be tested for listeriosis. I hope you feel better soon!
I’ve been eating one of the recalled products for over a week. Monday I had sever vomiting all day and am only now starting to feel better. So I have the symptoms – does this mean I have “listeriosis”? If I start to feel better do I need to get a test or will it clear from my system? I am 35 and otherwise healthy.
Hi Stacy, please call you doctor and tell her about your symptoms. She will know whether you need a test or treatment. Feel better soon!
I bought the kale ceased kit and the sweet kale kit on January 21, 2026. I didn’t get the news over the weekend and ended up eating the kale ceased kit. When I went to the food store on January 25 I saw the notices posted and inquired. Was told to bring product back for refund. I did take back the sweet kale kit for my refund but I am worried about the other bag I consumed . I don’t seem to be sick yet but how nerve racking to have this on your mind for more than 70days wondering if I have something wrong inside. There should be some kind of compensation from the company for people that can prove they used the product. I went in the garbage and kept the empty bag that I had eaten. How do we stay informed about this issue
I know that it’s nerve-wracking, but please remember that this is a treatable illness, especially if you aren’t in a high risk group. Don’t worry too much; just if you feel ill call your doctor. We will keep you updated on any more recalls or information from the CDC and FDA.
Are ALL bags with the “A” for sure contaminated? So if you ate it you are for sure going to show some sort of symptom?
Also I threw out the bag when the announced the recall but didn’t wash the fridge shelf it was on… That was almost two weeks ago. Is everything in the fridge contaminated with listeria now??
Yes, your fridge could have Listeria bacteria. Empty your fridge and wash it with soap and water, then a bleach solution made of 1 tablespoon liquid chlorine bleach and 1 gallon of water. Wipe down all packages with that solution as well.
No, not all bags are “for sure” contaminated. We have no way of knowing which ones are and which are not, which is why consumers are being asked to throw them away. And you are not definitely going to get sick if you ate it; there is a small risk that you are.
If you ate the salad that is recalled would I have been sick with diarrhea or vomiting within a day or so? Or could that symptom take longer to show? Very nervous it was a week and half ago we all ate the contaminated bag.
Symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes food poisoning usually appear within two or three days, sometimes up to a few weeks, sometimes up to 70 days. Just watch yourself and your family for illness. If anyone does get sick, see your doctor. Don’t worry – you are now empowered and you know about this problem. Listeriosis is a treatable illness.
Stupid Alert! I just called Sam’s Club in Southgate, Michigan to ask them about replacing or refunding my bag of recalled lettuce and they said I MUST bring salad in with receipt to return/replace. I explained to them that it is being advised by the CDC to use mild bleach solutions in/on anything that the salad and/or bag has touched so lugging it around may not be wise. I offered to take a photo even; however, they stood by this mandate. I told them I will be happy to bring them a contaminated bag and should anything happen, they will be just as liable as Dole!
I wish they would be more proactive than that.
I am not sure if this Marketside classic iceberg salad is one of the ones infected the number is A00400613:46 I eat a lot of dole salad I am a Walmart shopper I bought this about two weeks ago I had eating just about all of the bag when I seen this on the news. I have been having headaches and body aches but i do suffer from headaches from time to time, the expiration date was 1/19/16 what should i do now if anything?
Please call your doctor and tell her that you ate this recalled salad and are feeling sick. She will know whether you should be seen.
Well, my wife and I ate half of two bags of this salad with the A in the code. We are both over 70. I’ve had some bowel problems in the last couple of days, although it did not include diarrhea. Do we just wait until we get sick? Can’t the doctor give antibiotics as a prophylactic if you know you have eaten this stuff? Just waiting 70 days to possibly get sick strikes me as insane. What a grim joke Dole has played on all of us – I’ll never buy their products again and if I do get sick I’ll consult a lawyer. If Dole has know about this for so long why were we not notified much sooner? I think a class action is in Dole’s future.
Call your doctor and ask him what to do. If he thinks you need antibiotics he will prescribe them.
Where are the manufacturer code on the fresh selection bags? I just have a sticker that has the used by date and the numbers 0300804. Please help in pregnant and worried
The code should be above or below the use by date. If there is no number, then call the grocer to see if the bag you bought is part of the recall. Then call your doctor and tell her about this situation. She will know what to do.
Hi Linda, I bought several bags of Dole salad last week, including the spinach.I’ve since eaten two of the bags of salad in which I mixed the spinach in with.I expreinced diarrha about 30 minutes after eating the salad mixture I did’nt think much of it .just thought I had sufficint ruffage.I’ve also been having a stiff neck.Heard about the recall .went to fridge .low and behold the last bag of spinach has code beginning with the letter “A” Fournatly the other two bags of salad don’t have it.My questions are how do I find out if the salad I’ve eaten was part of the recall and how long does it stay in the blood since bowle movements help rid the body of foreingn substance?
Call your grocer to see if they carried any of the recalled mixes. If you have been sick, please call your doctor and ask to see her. A blood test is the best way to diagnose listeriosis.
I dont have the receipts will the store still refund my money?
Call them and ask; hopefully they will.
Yes they will….just did it today at Stop & Shop.
Hi, A friend of mine and I both at Dole salad spring mix 2 days ago. He got ill the day after. I got ill last night. I just found out about the recall and I’m not sure what to do. We both still feel ill. Do we go straight to the emergency room?
Please see your doctor and ask for a Listeria test. She will be able to tell you if an emergency room visit is indicated.
We purchased two “A” bags of Dole and First Selections salads in Lansing Michigan Jan 22 2016 and consumed part of one bag. After finding they were suspect I returned them to the store for a refund. We are in our ’80’s in reasonably good health. What should we do?
Monitor yourself for the symptoms of listeriosis. You might want to call your doctor and talk to him about this situation, just to be safe.
I purchased yesterday a plastic container of salad mix at The Anderson’s in Maumee Ohio. It does not have a brand name or code number. I do not know who the original supplier is. Is this safe to eat?
Thanks!
Tony
Ask the grocery store if the salad you bought was part of the recalled batch. They should know. If you aren’t sure, throw it out.
Why can’t you people buy veggies without a bag? Wash them yourselves with vinegar to get rid of bugs and
Different chemicals they use. Attention you will be lucky if you find a bug. Please don’t be so lazy.
Unwrapped and unpackaged fruits and vegetables have also caused foodborne illness; tomatoes, fresh cilantro, stone fruits, and whole cantaloupes have caused deadly food poisoning outbreaks in the past few years. No one is immune to this problem. Vinegar will NOT kill pathogenic bacteria, pathogens, viruses, or parasites. Cooking is the only reliable way to kill these pathogens.
For crying out loud. Now we are going to shame people for buying packaged vegetables instead of free standing. Just some food for thought. Most illness caused by food is due to unsanitary handling. Do you honestly think that every hand that touches the food is sanitary? You have sick people coughing and sneezng all over it and then how many unwashed hands touching it before you are the one to deem it the best of the pick and put in your cart.buying bagged vegetables isnt lazy. It is convienient. I would rather feed my family bagged vegetables than fast food. Not that it really matters but i use both
I just found out about the recall after I ate a bag of Just lettuce expiring 1/29/16. I must have been eating these for months though. I through the other out. What are the chances my bags were infected. I heard that the immune system can fight this without antibiotics for most people. Is that true. Thank you
I certainly hope you don’t get sick. The people who are most affected by listeriosis are the elderly, the very young, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems and chronic illness. But healthy people can be sickened by Listeria bacteria too. If you get sick, get a doctor. There’s no point in taking a chance with your health.
Ok I went green for health reasons now that’s crazy because I’ve been drinking and eating spinach every everyday for the past month what was dole thinking people eating healthier to prolong life and look like healthier eating can kill them still I opened my last bag this morning. Wow now all yall can say is monitor our health and look out for symptoms 1 more problem for work people whose on go all day. why?
Unfortunately, every single food in the world can be contaminated with bacteria. Most people, however, don’t get sick enough to see a doctor when they get food poisoning, let alone be hospitalized. If you do get sick, call your doctor.
Hi
I have 2 bags of Dole salad–unopened.
letters and #s on the bag are N014009 and N015008.
Where were these packaged and are they safe to eat?
If the code doesn’t start with the letter “A” they are safe to eat.
I just bought a bag of salad mix with the Little Salad Bar brand. It is labeled GO1A820. Are you stating that this lot is part of the recall? The CDC website says the recalled lot identifier must BEGIN with the letter A. You state that that if the lot CONTAINS the letter A it is subject to recall. As you represent an attorney, you must be liable for clarifying your advice. Thank you.
The story says “The salads can be identified by the letter “A” at the beginning of the manufacturing code found on the package.” And the FDA notice states “Retailers and consumers who have any remaining product with an “A” code should not consume it, and are urged to discard it.”
Hello,
Five days ago while visiting my daughter and her new baby in a New Jersey hospital I ate a pre-packaged chicken caesar salad from the hospital cafeteria. Two days later I woke with low fever, sweating, dizziness and diarrhea. It has improved, no fever but still some diarrhea. My daughter ate a caesar salad the day after I did and two days later she had sweating with diarrhea. Could these salads have been used in hospitals as well?
Hi, if you have been sick, please see your doctor. Only a blood test can confirm a diagnosis of listeriosis.
I eat these salads 3 times a week for lunch and have 2 unopened bags with the letter “A” on the manufacture code. On January 8th I was up all night with what I thought was food poisoning from a slice of pizza I ate for dinner. Last Weekend I thought I had come down with a case of diverticulitis and called my doctor for an appointment. I started feeling better on Monday so I cancelled but have been eating a bland diet since hoping it would go away. Now I am going in for a Listeria test. Dole should be ashamed of themselves for waiting so long to bring this out. If I have Listeria I am getting a lawyer!
I’m glad you are seeing a doctor. If you have listeriosis, please contact us again.
I have two salads from fresh selections and simple truth that we’ve been consuming a lot of over the past couple of weeks. I am pregnant and have been experiencing food poisoning symptoms all day today which is what brought me to look up everything I ate yesterday and find all this info. Both manufacture codes have an A in them but the A’s are not at the beginning. The fresh selections is TFRS007 A16 and the simple truth is TFRS005B12A. Are these part of the recall? Also, should we throw out other food that we touched immediately after touching the salads such as cheese? If they were part of the recall what do you advise I do?
If the “A” is not at the beginning of the code they are not part of the recall, so you don’t need to worry about it. But because you are pregnant and you are feeling sick, please call your doctor as soon as possible.
Did the dole salads that were contaminated get recalled in Texas? I’ve been eating salads like crazy for the new year,
Look for the letter “A” on the beginning of the package code under or above the “Enjoy By” date. According to the FDA, the recalled salads were not sold in Texas.
I have a bag of dole chopped salad kit the use date is 1_29_16 with the letter b01213b is this safe to eat….????
If the salad doesn’t have the letter “A” at the beginning of the packaging code, it’s safe to eat.
Does cooking the spinach kill the Listeria? We have already eaten it:(
Yes, cooking the spinach will kill Listeria. The only thing to worry about is cross-contamination between the spinach and other surfaces or foods before it was cooked. Wash any utensils, the cutting boards, and surfaces with a mild bleach solution or wash them in the dishwasher to kill any bacteria. And clean out your fridge with that mild bleach solution as well. Wash your hands after the cleaning is done.
I have eaten those salads with that A on the bag.Ive had flu like symptoms with headaches.And other things.What do I do?I did keep the empty bag just in case it’s needed.Is there anything we can do to this company for making us sick? Please advise.
Hi, please call your doctor and tell her that you have had those symptoms and that you ate the recalled products. Put the empty bag in another bag and wash your hands after handling it. If you do have listeriosis, please contact us again.
I am in Colorado I just bought a bag of Fresh Selections. Classic Garden I just found out about the recall.
A04 A14;47
Return it to the store and then clean out your fridge with a mild bleach solution. Wash your hands after cleaning and after handling the bag.
Does this apply to spinach? Marketside is included and I bought their spinach dip and am eating it right now. Am I pushing it or is it maybe a possibility that they made it with one of those batches?
We don’t know about the dip. If it was me I would throw the dip away.
Does this include the fresh selection spinach with the letter A?
Toss anything starting with the letter “A”.
Yes it does.
I live in Michigan, and I just ate our Dole salad on Thursday 01/21/2016; I am 8 weeks pregnant with my first pregnancy. I checked the trash can and the manufacturer number DOES begin with the letter A. After experiencing an upset stomach (diarrhea) Friday evening and then hearing about this recall I went to the ER. Now we are just waiting blood test results. My husband had the same upset stomach problems Friday too (the day after we both ate it). This “unknown” is terrible. I just want my baby and I to be safe! If for any unfortunate reason this does affect me, I hope Dole is ready to foot the bill. I will never buy their products ever again. Lesson learned.
I’m glad you went to the doctor. Please also call your obstetrician and tell her about this issue. If you do have listeriosis, please contact us again.
Just discovered an opened, half used bag in my fridge with the “A” but the “best by” date is 123/16. The last date was 12/15. Hope we’re safe- I tossed it!!!
Actually, they were still producing it through 1/21/16 – so what you had was part of the recall. Same for me 🙁
Is it all varieties of Dole salad? My parents bought the Very Veggie kind with the A and have already consumed it.
If the salad had the code starting with “A”, it’s part of the recalled batch. Just tell them to watch for flu-like symptoms and see their doctor if they feel sick. Tell her about this recall and the reason for it. Listeriosis can be treated.
i ate half a bag of the recalled Maretside salad sold by Walmart in Macomb MI. I didn’t feel good yesterday had mild chest pain and i went online and saw that the salad was the one that was recalled. I went to the hosp and explained how i was feeling they ran test for my heart because i am over 65. I asked them about the listeria and they basically said if i didn’t vomit or had diarrhea not to be concerned.
I have had neck pain, headaches. I guess I will have to wait and see what if anything comes from this.
Hi, please call your doctor and tell him about this problem. Listeria symptoms don’t always include vomiting or diarrhea. A blood test is the only way to diagnose this illness. If you do have listeriosis, please contact us again.
I ate the recalled salad. Why can’t I get a drug to prevent any illness? Why do I have to wait up to 70 days to find out if I am sick and risk giving this to someone else? I feel sick already just thinking about it. I did notice that the coleslaw I ate tasted weird but I put it back in the refrigerator. At first I looked to see if it had expired. I work out almost daily so I always have some muscles that ache and get fatigued. How will I know the difference?
Concerned, very concerned.
If you are concerned, please contact your doctor. He or she will know if you should be seen and if a blood test is needed. That’s the only way to tell the difference between food poisoning and regular muscle aches.
Hi…I just threw away three bags of unopened salad…can I take the bags to the store..washed of course…and get a refund or replacement?
Yes, take the bags back to the store for a refund.
I’m taking my 3 unused back for a refund! Shame on Dole for not advising that instead of throwing it out. Why should we pay for their mistake. We have been eating 2 or3 of these bagged salads a week for the last several months! They could have told us sooner, now I can worry for the next 3 months if we’re going to die from trying to eat healthy! We are in our 70’s.
Will Lysol spray kill the germs in the refrigerator and on the plastic bowls we’ve been eating from? Need to disinfect! Help!
Okay, first of all, don’t worry for three months. Just be aware of the symptoms of listeriosis, and if you do feel sick, see your doctor. This is a treatable infection.
Put the plastic bowls in the dishwasher – that’s the best way to clean them. Experts say that using a mild bleach solution to wash out the fridge is the best way to kill Listeria bacteria. One tablespoon of liquid chlorine bleach in one gallon of water is the proper concentration. And wash your hands well after handling the bags and cleaning the fridge.
We had a package of the infected Baby Kale leaves , but we ate it a few days ago? what should we do??
Monitor yourself for the symptoms of listeriosis that are listed in the article. You most likely won’t get sick, but if you do start experiencing food poisoning symptoms or flu-like symptoms go to your doctor. She will do a blood test to see if you have listeriosis. If you do, you can be treated for it.
We bought this salad on 21/01/16 ate one packet on the same day we have one left
My wife had diarrhea last two days
My daughter and myself do not have any symptoms as of now
What action need to be taken
Thanks
Please call your doctor and tell her about your wife’s illness.
i eat salad what do i do,
Monitor yourself for the symptoms of Listeria food poisoning. The odds are you won’t get sick, but if you do start feeling like you have the flu, see your doctor. A blood test is the best way to diagnose Listeria. Don’t worry too much, just stay aware.
We haven’t opened ours what do we do we would like a refund?
If you bought Dole salad that is part of the recall, don’t open it. Take it back to the store where you purchased it and they should give you a full refund.
I have a Dole salad I purchased, it has Enjoy By 01-27-16-NO13013 19:15. Is this safe or should I throw it away. Pease advise.
Does it have the letter “A” at the start of the number underneath the “Enjoy By” date? If it does, throw it out. If there is no “A”, it’s safe to eat.
I am vry concerned since I’ve been eating these packaged salads forever, that it took over six months for this recall to be put out!
Dole should be ashamed of themselves!! Their website does NOT go into the details as thoroughly as this article…i.e. how long it’s been going on!!
Thank you for all this information.
so true i been eating salad for two weeks now. i upset.
Please don’t worry. If you get sick, call your doctor and tell her about this problem.
We opened and ate an “A” labeled bag 2 days ago. Feel fine. What’s funny though is the salad had more moisture on it than normal. I even thought is this salad “ok”. Oh well.
Just watch yourself for the symptoms of the illness, and if you do get sick, see your doctor.
I’m upset about this recall. I just finished making a salad using Dole Spinach and serving it to my family tonight. I bought the Dole Spinach for the last two month as well. We all started experiencing diarrhea – stomach cramps – headaches – and body aches a few weeks ago. How do we get compensated.
Go back to the store where you purchased the salad and talk to the manager. If you have an empty bag, take that back too (then wash your hands after you handle it.) If you are sick, please see your doctor as soon as possible and tell her about this.