Salmonella Scare Prompts Fresh Express Salad Recall

Some Fresh Express ready-to-eat salads have been recalled in 26 states due to a possible salmonella contamination, the company announced Monday.

The Romaine-based salads have expiration dates between May 13 and May 16, and the letter "S" in the product code (see table below).

The recall affects salads in the following states: Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Nebraska, Montana, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Nevada, Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota.

"The recall notification is being issued out of an abundance of caution based on an isolated instance in which a single package of Fresh Express Hearts of Romaine Salad with a use by date of May 15 was confirmed positive for Salmonella in a random sample test conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration," according to a company news release.

Salmonella is an organism that can cause fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and possibly bloody diarrhea in healthy individuals, and serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems.

Company officials issued a statement saying it is "highly unlikely" that any of the potentially affected salads are still on store shelves due to the expired use-by dates, but consumers might still have the product in their refrigerator and should immediately discard it.

The use-by date is found in the upper right hand corner of the package with the product code located immediately underneath. For Fresh Express Gourmet Cafe Salads, the use-by date and product code are located on the bottom of the salad bowl.

Affected consumers are eligible for a full refund by calling Fresh Express at 800-242-5472.

Fresh Express, which was founded in Salinas, Calif., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chiquita Brands International.

Bag UPC CodeProduct DescriptionOz
2 7127925101 15-Lettuce Mix6.00
0 7127924100 5American12.00
0 7127930201 0Asian Supreme Completes Kit13.90
0 7127930105 1BLT Caesar Completes Kit10.50
0 7127930100 6Caesar Completes Kit10.00
0 7127930104 4Caesar Supreme Completes Kit10.75
0 7127930101 3CaesarLite Completes Kit10.00
0 7127930601 8Salsa! Ensalada Supreme Completes Kit14.00
0 7127910802 5Double Carrots12.00
0 7127923201 0Fancy Greens7.00
0 7127940705 0Gourmet Café Caribbean Chicken8.60
0 7127940701 2Gourmet Cafe Chicken Caesar7.80
0 7127940702 9Gourmet Cafe Chop Turkey Chef9.10
7127940706 7Gourmet Cafe Tuscan Chicken Pesto7.80
0 7127910804 9Green & Crisp12.00
0 7127926102 7Hearts of Romaine10.00
0 7127926201 7Hearts of Romaine18.00
0 7127921100 8Italian10.00
0 7127926112 6Leafy Green Romaine9.00
0 7127910809 4Lettuce Trio9.00
0 7127910808 7Premium Romaine9.00
1 7127926100 3Romaine Chopped 6/2#32.00
0 7127926111 9Triple Hearts8.00
0 7127928100 1Veggie Lovers12.00
Copyright CNS - City News Service
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