Dole Fresh Vegetables announced the recall of all Dole-branded and private label packaged salads processed at its Bessemer City, NC, and Yuma, AZ, processing facilities because of a link to a deadly outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections.
Affected brands include Kroger, Walmart and Lidl, among others.
In addition to the recall Dole is temporarily suspending operations at both facilities to conduct an extensive cleaning and sanitation protocol. Listeria can persist in processing facilities for years, according to public health officials.
The decision to suspend operations and recall all products from these facilities was made after analysis of the strain of Listeria monocytogenes isolated in a package of Dole-branded Garden Salad produced in the Bessemer City facility and a package of shredded iceberg lettuce produced in the Yuma facility. Both of those items were randomly sampled by the state of Georgia and the state of Michigan, respectively, and were a genetic match with a strain of Listeria monocytogenes which FDA and CDC believe is responsible for 16 illnesses .
One case occurred in 2014 and the remaining cases occurred between 2018 and 2021. Of 14 people with information available, 12 have been hospitalized and two died. The sick people are spread across 13 states.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of Dec. 22, Illnesses started on dates ranging from Aug. 16, 2014, to Oct. 17, 2021. There is concern that consumers may have unused portions of some of the salads because they don’t expire until Jan 8, 2022.
Whole-genome sequencing showed that bacteria from sick people’s samples are closely related genetically. This suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from the same food.
Recalled salad items from the Bessemer City facility were distributed in the states of Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
Recalled salad items from the Yuma facility were distributed in the states of Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.
Products subject to the recall are identified by a product lot code beginning with either the letter “N” or “Y” in the upper right-hand corner of the package and will have a “Best if Used By” date between Nov. 30, 2021, and Jan. 8, 2022.
Dole retailers have been advised to check store shelves and warehouse inventories to confirm that no recalled product is available for purchase by consumers.
Consumers who still have any of these products in their refrigerators are urged not to consume the product and to discard it immediately.
Recalled products:
| Production Description | Product UPC |
| Ahold 10oz Chopped Romaine | 688267011085 |
| Ahold 12oz American Blend | 688267011535 |
| Ahold 12oz Garden Salad Mix | 688267184437 |
| Ahold 32oz Garden Salad | 688267011610 |
| Ahold 5oz 50/50 Spinach & Spring Mix | 688267176524 |
| Ahold 5oz Arugula | 688267011559 |
| Ahold 5oz Spring Mix | 688267011191 |
| Ahold 6oz Baby Spinach Bag | 688267010965 |
| Ahold 7oz Butter Blend | 688267011436 |
| Ahold 8oz Italian House Blend | 688267011627 |
| Dole 10.2oz Chopped Bacon Caesar | 071430000892 |
| Dole 10.6oz Chopped Greek | 071430000885 |
| Dole 10.7oz Chopped Fiesta Lime Kit | 071430000991 |
| Dole 10.8oz Chop Caesar Kit | 071430000847 |
| Dole 10oz 50/50 Spinach & Spring Mix Blend Clamshell | 071430010983 |
| Dole 10oz Angel Hair Coleslaw | 071430009741 |
| Dole 10oz Baby Spinach Clamshell | 071430000168 |
| Dole 10oz Caesar Kit | 071430008065 |
| Dole 10oz Light Caesar Kit US | 071430009253 |
| Dole 10oz Shredded Carrot | 071430000281 |
| Dole 10oz Spring Mix Clamshell | 071430000137 |
| Dole 10oz Very Veggie | 071430010082 |
| Dole 11.3oz Chop Avocado Ranch Kit | 01430000915 |
| Dole 11.3oz Chop Avocado Ranch Kit | 071430000915 |
| Dole 11.3oz Ultimate Caesar Kit | 071430017029 |
| Dole 11.5 oz Creamy Coleslaw Kit | 071430017173 |
| Dole 11oz Greener Selection | 071430009659 |
| Dole 12.1oz Buffalo Ranch Chopped Kit | 071430000946 |
| Dole 12.2oz Chopped Applewood Bacon Kit | 071430001011 |
| Dole 12.2oz Chopped Sunflower Crunch Kit | 071430000342 |
| Dole 12.9oz Bacon & Bleu Chopped Kit | 071430000304 |
| Dole 12.9oz Chipotle and Cheddar Chopped Kit | 071430000311 |
| Dole 12oz American Blend | 071430009338 |
| Dole 12oz Garden Salad | 071430011355 |
| Dole 12oz Premium Sweet Kale Kit | 071430000809 |
| Dole 13 oz BBQ Ranch Chopped Kit | 071430000298 |
| Dole 13.25oz Country Ranch | 071430017302 |
| Dole 13.6oz Sesame Asian Chopped Kit | 071430000359 |
| Dole 13.6oz Sunflower Crunch Chopped Kit | 071430000342 |
| Dole 13oz Endless Summer Kit | 071430010730 |
| Dole 13oz Southwest Kit | 071430017012 |
| Dole 14oz Coleslaw | 071430010662 |
| Dole 14oz Southern Slaw | 071430010365 |
| Dole 15.5oz Family Ultimate Caesar | 071430000830 |
| Dole 15oz Family Classic Romaine | 071430010372 |
| Dole 24oz Garden Salad | 071430011362 |
| Dole 2lb Chopped Romaine | 071430009512 |
| Dole 5.5oz Baby Spinach | 071430009642 |
| Dole 5oz 50/50 Spinach & Spring Mix Blend | 071430010976 |
| Dole 5oz Arugula | 071430010723 |
| Dole 5oz Organic Spring Mix Clamshell | 071430846254 |
| Dole 5oz Spring Mix | 071430009437 |
| Dole 6 oz Butter Bliss | 071430010709 |
| Dole 6.9oz Blueberry Bliss Salad Kit | 071430010495 |
| Dole 7oz Field Greens | 071430009611 |
| Dole 8.3oz Spinach Miso Crunch Kit | 071430010532 |
| Dole 8oz Shredded Lettuce | 071430010655 |
| Dole 8oz Spinach | 071430009765 |
| Dole 9.0oz Premium Romaine | 071430009109 |
| Dole 9.1oz Peppercorn Ranch Chopped Kit | 071430000939 |
| Dole 9.8oz Chopped Teriyaki Pineapple Kit | 071430001004 |
| Dole 9oz Classic Romaine | 071430010693 |
| Dole 9oz Hearts of Romaine | 071430009567 |
| Kroger 10oz Hearts of Romaine | 011110910448 |
| Kroger 10oz Baby Spinach Clamshell | 011110910509 |
| Kroger 10oz Italian Blend | 011110910455 |
| Kroger 10oz Leafy Romaine | 011110910462 |
| Kroger 10oz Premium Romaine Blend | 011110910387 |
| Kroger 10oz Spring Mix Clamshell | 011110910523 |
| Kroger 10oz Tender Spinach (Teen) | 011110916495 |
| Kroger 12oz Garden Salad | 011110910363 |
| Kroger 12oz Veggie Blend | 011110910486 |
| Kroger 16oz Organic Spring Mix Clamshell | 111110911308 |
| Kroger 1lb Organic Baby Spinach Clamshell | 111110911513 |
| Kroger 24oz Garden Salad | 011110910370 |
| Kroger 4.5oz Shredded Green Leaf | 011110061065 |
| Kroger 5.5oz 50/50 Mix Clamshell | 011110910530 |
| Kroger 5oz Chopped Kale | 011110221490 |
| Kroger 5oz Organic Baby Arugula Clamshell | 111110911506 |
| Kroger 5oz Organic Baby Kale Clamshell | 111110917270 |
| Kroger 5oz Organic Baby Romaine Blend Clamshell | 111110911278 |
| Kroger 5oz Organic Baby Spinach Clamshell | 111110911285 |
| Kroger 5oz Organic Power Greens Clamshell | 111110917331 |
| Kroger 5oz Organic Spring Mix Clamshell | 111110911315 |
| Kroger 5oz Spring Mix Clamshell | 011110910516 |
| Kroger 6oz Baby Spinach Clamshell | 011110910493 |
| Kroger 8oz Field Greens | 011110910424 |
| Kroger 8oz Shredded Romaine | 011110221483 |
| Lidl 10oz Caesar Kit | 20737740 |
| Lidl 11oz 50/50Baby Spinach/Spring Mix Blend Clamshell | 4056489503576 |
| Lidl 11oz Baby Spinach Clamshell | 4056489503552 |
| Lidl 11oz Spring Mix Clamshell | 4056489503569 |
| Lidl 12oz American | 4056489210511 |
| Lidl 12oz Garden Salad | 20737726 |
| Lidl 12oz Sesame Asian Chopped Kit | 4056489210450 |
| Lidl 14oz Coleslaw | 4056489151265 |
| Lidl 16oz Baby Spinach Clamshell | 4056489210542 |
| Lidl 5oz Baby Arugula | 4056489210535 |
| Lidl 5oz Spring Mix | 20737702 |
| Lidl 6oz Baby Spinach | 20737696 |
| Lidl 8oz Shred Lettuce | 4056489151272 |
| Lidl 8oz Teen Spinach | 20269845 |
| Lidl 9oz Italian Blend | 20737733 |
| Little Salad Bar 10.65oz Caesar Kit | 4099100263923 |
| Little Salad Bar 10oz Caesar Kit | 4099100087000 |
| Little Salad Bar 11.5oz Chopped Avocado Ranch Kit | 4099100219555 |
| Little Salad Bar 12oz Chop Sunflower Crunch Kit | 4099100087925 |
| Little Salad Bar 12oz Chopped Asian Kit | 4099100086973 |
| Little Salad Bar 12oz Chopped Southwest Kit | 4099100087031 |
| Little Salad Bar 12oz Chopped Sweet Kale Kit | 4099100083552 |
| Little Salad Bar 12oz Garden Salad | 4099100082982 |
| Little Salad Bar 14oz Coleslaw | 4099100154887 |
| Little Salad Bar 5oz Spring Mix | 4099100083507 |
| Little Salad Bar 6oz Butter Lettuce | 4099100083064 |
| Little Salad Bar 8oz Shredded Lettuce | 4099100087963 |
| Little Salad Bar 8oz Spinach | 4099100083453 |
| Little Salad Bar 9oz Italian Blend | 4099100083194 |
| Marketside 10oz Angel Hair Coleslaw | 681131387491 |
| Marketside 10oz Leafy Romaine Salad | 681131027816 |
| Marketside 10oz Premium Hearts of Romaine Salad | 681131027830 |
| Marketside 10oz Spinach | 681131329460 |
| Marketside 11.3oz Chopped Caesar Kit | 681131148320 |
| Marketside 11oz 50-50 Spinach & Spring Mix Blend Clamshell | 681131355018 |
| Marketside 11oz Baby Spinach Clamshell | 681131090254 |
| Marketside 11oz Spring Mix w/ Greenleaf Clamshell | 681131355001 |
| Marketside 12.3oz Chopped Avocado Ranch Kit | 681131305136 |
| Marketside 12oz Classic Iceberg | 681131328944 |
| Marketside 12oz Crisp Greens | 681131355032 |
| Marketside 13.4oz Chopped Southwest Kit | 681131305129 |
| Marketside 13.7oz Asian Chopped Kit | 681131305150 |
| Marketside 13.8oz Cherry Almond Gorgonzola Chop Kit | 681131305167 |
| Marketside 13.8oz Sunflower Bacon Kit | 681131305143 |
| Marketside 14.6oz Bacon Caesar Kit | 681131387354 |
| Marketside 15oz Caesar Kit | 681131387446 |
| Marketside 16oz Organic 50-50 Spinach & Spring Mix Clamshell | 681131354783 |
| Marketside 16oz Organic Baby Spinach Clamshell | 681131085731 |
| Marketside 16oz Organic Spring Mix Clamshell | 681131354769 |
| Marketside 16oz Shredded Iceberg | 681131532099 |
| Marketside 16oz Tri-Color Coleslaw | 681131387484 |
| Marketside 18oz Premium Romaine Salad | 681131388078 |
| Marketside 22.2oz Family Sunflower Bacon Chopped Kit | 681131377348 |
| Marketside 23.5oz Family Caesar Kit | 681131387460 |
| Marketside 24oz Classic Iceberg Salad | 681131328951 |
| Marketside 5.5oz Organic 50-50 Spinach & Spring Mix Clamshell | 681131354790 |
| Marketside 5oz Organic Arugula Clamshell | 681131221733 |
| Marketside 5oz Organic Baby Spinach & Baby Kale Clamshell | 681131221290 |
| Marketside 5oz Organic Baby Spinach Clamshell | 681131328982 |
| Marketside 5oz Organic Spinach Arugula Blend Clamshell | 681131532082 |
| Marketside 5oz Organic Spring Mix Clamshell | 681131354776 |
| Marketside 5oz Spring Mix | 681131354998 |
| Marketside 6 oz Butter Blend Salad | 681131027861 |
| Marketside 6oz Baby Greens | 681131355025 |
| Marketside 6oz Baby Spinach | 681131027908 |
| Marketside 8oz Bacon Ranch Crunch Kit | 681131305440 |
| Marketside 8oz Shredded Iceberg | 681131328968 |
| Marketside 9.5oz Kale Pecan Cranberry Chopped Kit | 681131221320 |
| Marketside 9oz Chopped Romaine Mix | 681131221412 |
| Marketside 9oz Premium Romaine Salad | 681131387538 |
| Naturally Better 16oz Organic 50-50 Spinach & Spring Mix Clamshell | 607880203431 |
| Naturally Better 16oz Organic Baby Spinach Clamshell | 607880203417 |
| Naturally Better 16oz Organic Spring Mix Clamshell | 607880203424 |
| Naturally Better 5oz Organic 50-50 Spinach &Spring Mix Clamshell | 607880203363 |
| Naturally Better 5oz Organic Arugula Clamshell | 607880203394 |
| Naturally Better 5oz Organic Baby Romaine Clamshell | 607880203400 |
| Naturally Better 5oz Organic Baby Spinach Clamshell | 607880203370 |
| Naturally Better 5oz Organic Spring Mix Clamshell | 607880203387 |
| Natures Promise 10oz Organic Baby SpinachClamshell | 688267548864 |
| Natures Promise 10oz Organic Spring Mix Clamshell | 688267548871 |
| Natures Promise 5oz Organic 50-50 Spinach & Spring Mix Clamshell | 688267154560 |
| Nature’s Promise 5oz Organic Baby Arugula Clamshell | 688267154478 |
| Nature’s Promise 5oz Organic Baby Kale Clamshell | 688267154492 |
| Nature’s Promise 5oz Organic Baby Romaine Clamshell | 688267154485 |
| Natures Promise 5oz Organic Baby Spring Mix Clamshell | 688267154546 |
| Simply Nature 16oz Organic Spring Mix Clamshell | 4099100088632 |
| Simply Nature 5oz Organic Baby Spinach and Arugula Clamshell | 4099100087994 |
| Simply Nature 5oz Organic Baby Spinach Clamshell | 4099100088564 |
| Simply Nature 5oz Organic Mixed Greens Clamshell | 4099100088069 |
| Dole 8 oz Shredded Lettuce | UPC 0-71430-01065-5 |
| Marketside 8 oz Shredded Lettuce | UPC 6-81131-32896-8 |
| Kroger 8oz Shredded Lettuce | UPC 0-11110-91613-6 |
About Listeria infections
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections. Anyone who has eaten any recalled products and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical treatment and tell their doctors about the possible Listeria exposure.
Also, anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products should monitor themselves for symptoms during the coming weeks because it can take up to 70 days after exposure to Listeria for symptoms of listeriosis to develop.
Symptoms of Listeria infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Specific laboratory tests are required to diagnose Listeria infections, which can mimic other illnesses.
Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and people such as cancer patients who have weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of serious illnesses, life-threatening infections, and other complications. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, their infections can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.
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