Fresh Express is recalled 2,825 cases of Veggie Lovers Salad yesterday after a random sample of the product was found to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes in a test conducted by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. 

In a press release, the company stated that anyone who has purchased the Fresh Express Veggie Lovers Salad with a Product Code of I208 and Use-by Date of August 10, 2010 should discard the product due to the risk of foodborne illness.

Cases of the recalled Veggie Lovers Salad were distributed by Fresh Express to 13 states with the potential for redistribution by customers to an additional 14 states.  States that received the salads include: MO, MI, OH, IL, WI, IN, MD, MA, NY, KS, KY, PA, NJ.  States that the salads may have been redistributed to are: AR, TN, WV, IA, MN, DC, VA, VT, NH, NE, RI, PA, CT, MS. 

Approximately 2,500 cases of listeriosis are estimated to occur in the U.S. each year.  About 200 in every 1000 cases result in death.  Certain groups of individuals are at greater risk for listeriosis, including pregnant women (and their unborn children) and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer and AIDS patients.

No illnesses have been reported in association with the recall.

Questions regarding the recalled products should be directed to the Fresh Express Consumer Response Center at (800) 242-5472, Monday – Friday, 5 a.m. – 8 p.m., Pacific Time.  The Product Code and Use-by Date for the recalled salads can be found in the upper right-hand corner of the package.