According to News Week, Fresh Express Incorporated has announced a voluntary recall of its 5.75-ounce Gourmet Café Chicken Caesar Salad Bowls after concerns arose regarding potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, a dangerous bacterium associated with severe and sometimes fatal infections.
Details of the Recall
The recall was initiated on Saturday following information that chicken supplied by BrucePac, which has also issued its own recall for possible listeria contamination, may have affected the chicken used in the salad bowls. The potentially contaminated salad bowls were distributed in the following states:
- California
- Louisiana
- Texas
- Washington
Fresh Express has ceased sourcing chicken from the implicated BrucePac facility while awaiting further inspections and approvals from the United States Department of Agriculture.
Affected Products
Consumers can identify the affected Gourmet Café Chicken Caesar Salad Bowls by the following product details:
- Use-by dates: October 26, October 27, October 30, and November 2, 2024
- Package codes: S281, S282, S285, S288
- Universal Product Code (UPC): 071279565620
Fresh Express clarified that only the chicken component is impacted by this recall, and other ingredients, such as fresh vegetables, remain unaffected.
Consumer Advisory
Consumers are strongly urged not to consume any of the recalled products. Instead, they should dispose of the salad bowls or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. For further information, customers can contact Fresh Express at (800) 242-5472 during business hours.
Also read: D-SNAP Application Deadlines for Disaster Food Stamps in 2024: What You Need to Know
Health Risks Associated with Listeria
Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, which poses serious health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), high-risk individuals—including pregnant women, newborns, adults aged 65 and older, and those with weakened immune systems—are particularly susceptible to severe complications.
Symptoms of listeriosis in high-risk groups may include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Abdominal pain
In pregnant women, listeriosis can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth. Healthy individuals may experience mild flu-like symptoms, such as nausea and diarrhea. Each year, approximately 1,600 people in the U.S. contract listeriosis, with about 260 cases resulting in death, making listeria infections the third leading cause of death from foodborne illnesses in the country.
Related Recalls
Recent reports indicate that the BrucePac recall also affects several major grocery chains, including Walmart, Kroger, Target, Amazon Fresh, Aldi, and Trader Joe’s. The Food Safety and Inspection Service has released a comprehensive 345-page document detailing the affected products, complete with pictures of product labels to help customers determine whether their purchases are safe.
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