Fresh Express is recalling salads for possible cyclospora contamination. These products are potentially linked to a multistate cyclospora outbreak that has sickened more than 200 people in eight states. Fresh Express is working with the FDA in an investigation into this contamination and outbreak. There are more than 90 different types and sizes of recalled salads on the list at the FDA web page. The brand names involved that we know of now include ALDI, Hy Vee, Jewel Osco, Walmart, Giant Eagle, and ShopRite, along with Fresh Express.
The recalled salads were produced at the company’s Streamwood, Illinois facility. They contain iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, and carrots. Both branded and private label salads are recalled. These salads all have the letter “Z” at the beginning of the product code, which is on the upper right hand corner of the front of each package. Only the products containing iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, and/or carrots AND displaying the product code Z178, or a lower “Z” number, are recalled.
These salads were distributed to select retail stores in these states: Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. These salads are being removed from store shelves, distribution, and inventories to make sure they are no longer available for sale. No other Fresh Express products are affected by this recall.
You can see the long list of recalled products at the FDA web site, along with UPC number production code, use by date, and possible distribution states. Some of the names include America’s Fresh Old Fashioned Cole Slaw, Chopped Kit Asian, Chopped Kit Chipotle Cheddar, Chopped Kit Poppyseed, Sesame Asian Salad, Lettuce Trio, Fancy Greens, and Farmer’s Garden, among others.
Please look at the list carefully. If you purchased any of these products, do not eat them. Throw them away in a sealed garbage can, or take them back to the store where you bought them for a full refund. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling these products.
If you ate any of these recalled salads, watch yourself for the symptoms of cyclosporiasis, which can take 2 to 5 days to appear. Symptoms include bloating, gas, fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea that is frequent and explosive. There is treatment for this infection, but it is sulfa based.
