Highest risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Dole, Marketside, President’s Choice Salad kits recall: Listeria monocytogenes

Recall published 2+ years ago

Listeria monocytogenes

Dole, Marketside, President’s Choice Fresh produce — recalled fresh produceDole, Marketside, President’s Choice Fresh produce — recalled fresh produce (photo 2)Dole, Marketside, President’s Choice Fresh produce — recalled fresh produce (photo 3)Dole, Marketside, President’s Choice Fresh produce — recalled fresh produce (photo 4)
4 photos published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: Listeria contamination

This is a Listeria recall, so the usual kitchen tests do not apply — the bacteria grow in a cold fridge and leave no smell, no cloudiness and no off taste.

What the notice says: Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Why it matters: Listeria monocytogenes is unusual among foodborne bacteria because it keeps growing at refrigerator temperature. A contaminated pack does not become safer for sitting in the cold, and it will look, smell and taste completely normal.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

Listeriosis is mild or silent in most healthy adults, but it is serious for pregnant people, newborns, adults over 65 and anyone whose immune system is suppressed. The CDC describes intestinal illness as diarrhoea and vomiting, and invasive illness as fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or convulsions. In pregnancy it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth or infection in the newborn even when the parent feels only mildly unwell. Symptoms can start within a day or not appear for weeks, so tell any doctor you see that you ate a recalled product and give them the date.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Published
February 8, 2024
Risk level
Highest risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Dole, Marketside, President’s Choice
Product type
Fresh produce
Distribution
Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin
UPC codes
681131305440

Products covered by this recall

Salad kits

What the company announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –Monterey, CA–February 8, 2024–Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. is voluntarily recalling from the market a limited number of Dole-branded and private label salad kits described below, which were processed on the same line as a cheese that has been recalled by the manufacturer, Rizo-Lopez Foods, for the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes . ( https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/rizo-lopez-foods-inc-voluntarily-recallsdairy-products-because-possible-health-risk )

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

This recall notification is being issued due to the potential for cross-contamination of cheese contained in certain masterpacks by cheese potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes from our packaged cheese supplier. At this time, we are unaware of any specific illnesses associated with our products. or by other purchasers of their recalled cheese.

A listing of products subject to this recall is set forth below and includes Dole, President’s Choice, and Marketside brands. The product lot codes are located in the upper-right-hand corner of the package. Consumers who still have any of these products in their refrigerators or freezers are urged not to consume the product and to discard it immediately.

Recalled salad items were distributed in the states of AL, CA, CT, FL, GA, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NV, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, UT, VA, WA and WI. Additionally, these salads were distributed in the following Canadian provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Quebec.

No other Dole products are part of these voluntary recalls.

Dole retailers have been advised to check store shelves and warehouse inventories to confirm that no recalled product is available for purchase by consumers.

Retailer and consumer questions about the voluntary recalls should be directed to the Dole Consumer Response Center at 800-356-3111, Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 3:00pm Pacific Time.

Dole Fresh Vegetables is coordinating closely with regulatory officials.

  • Brand: Dole · Product Description: Chopped Kit Avocado Ranch · UPC: 71430000915 · Lot Code Starting With: W019- W036 · BIUB: 02/03/2024-02/20/2024
  • Brand: N019-N036 · Product Description: 02/03/2024-02/20/2024
  • Brand: Dole · Product Description: Chop Kit Avocado Ranch Chop Kit Ranch A L'Avocat · UPC: 71430000922 · Lot Code Starting With: W022- W036 · BIUB: 2024 FE 06 - 2024 FE 20
  • Brand: Dole · Product Description: Premium Kit Southwest Salad · UPC: 71430017012 · Lot Code Starting With: W022- W036 · BIUB: 02/04/2024-02/18/2024
  • Brand: N022- N036 · Product Description: 02/04/2024- 02/18/2024
  • Brand: Dole · Product Description: Cajun Ranch Chopped Kit · UPC: 71430002063 · Lot Code Starting With: W029- W036 · BIUB: 02/11/2024- 02/18/2024
  • Brand: N022- N036 · Product Description: 02/04/2024- 02/18/2024
  • Brand: Dole · Product Description: Premium Kit Endless Summer · UPC: 71430010730 · Lot Code Starting With: W022- W036 · BIUB: 02/04/2024- 02/18/2024
  • Brand: N023- N036 · Product Description: 02/05/2024-02/19/2024
  • Brand: Dole · Product Description: Supreme Kit Southwest Salad Supreme Kit Salade Du Sud-Ouest · UPC: 71430017111 · Lot Code Starting With: W020- W036 · BIUB: 2024 FE 03 - 2024 FE 18
  • Brand: President's Choice · Product Description: Southwest Salad Kit Sud-Ouest Kit de Salade · UPC: 60383023195 · Lot Code Starting With: W034-W036 · BIUB: 2024 FE 17 - 2024 FE 18
  • Brand: B018- B024 · Product Description: 2024 FE 03 - 2024 FE 09
  • Brand: Marketside · Product Description: Chopped Salad Kit Bacon Ranch Crunch · UPC: 681131305440 · Lot Code Starting With: B020- B036 · BIUB: 02/05/2024- 02/21/2024

FDA Outbreak Investigation

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

Check your product

The notice names 1 code you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

UPC / barcode

Read the twelve digits under the barcode on the package.

  • 681131305440

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Listeria

Dole, Marketside, President’s Choice — This is a Listeria recall, so the usual kitchen tests do not apply — the bacteria grow in a cold fridge and leave no smell, no cloudiness and no off taste.

  1. Do not eat it and do not open a sealed pack to inspect it — opening it only spreads the bacteria around your kitchen.
  2. If anyone in the household is pregnant, over 65 or immunocompromised, call a clinician for advice even if nobody feels ill. That conversation is quick and it is the whole point of a Listeria recall.
  3. Photograph the label, the lot code and the date mark before the pack leaves the house — that picture is what a refund claim runs on.
  4. Throw it out in a sealed bag, or return it to the store. Either is accepted; what matters is that nobody else eats it.

Getting a refund without the pack

The commonest reason people skip the refund is that they have already thrown the item away. That rarely matters.

  • A photo of the label and lot code is accepted by most grocers, and so is a card statement line showing the purchase.
  • Store credit is often offered first. You can ask for the original payment method instead, and it is normally granted.
  • No photo either? Ask anyway. Grocery chains settle recall refunds at the service desk because disputing them costs more than paying them.
  • For a multi-pack or a case, ask for the full purchase price rather than a per-unit figure — the recall covers what you paid.

Remedy named in the notice: Consumers who still have any of these products in their refrigerators or freezers are urged not to consume the product and to discard it immediately.

Company contact: Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. — Consumers: Dole Consumer Response Center, 800-356-3111 — Media: Bil Goldfield - Director, Corporate Communications, Dole Food Company, Inc., 818-874-4647

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Dole, Marketside, President’s Choice fresh produce recalled?

Listeria monocytogenes Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: UPC 681131305440. If the code on your package is not on that list, your unit is outside the recall.

What should I do with it right now?

Do not eat it and do not open a sealed pack to inspect it — opening it only spreads the bacteria around your kitchen.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Consumers who still have any of these products in their refrigerators or freezers are urged not to consume the product and to discard it immediately.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota and others.

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