Fresh Express Lettuce – 10 sick with 1 death in 8 states – 2021

Illnesses: As of December 21, 2021, 10 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from eight states: Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Illnesses started on dates ranging from July 26, 2016 through October 19, 2021. Sick people range in age from 44 to 95 years, with a median age of 80, and 60% are female. All 10 people have been hospitalized. One death has been reported from Pennsylvania. WGS showed that bacteria from sick people’s samples are closely related genetically. This means that people in this outbreak likely got sick from the same food.

Traceback and Recall: On December 16, 2021, the Michigan Department of Agriculture identified the outbreak strain of Listeria in a bag of Fresh Express Sweet Hearts packaged salad. On December 20, 2021, Fresh Express recalled several brands of packaged salad products. The recall includes all Use-By Dates with product codes Z324 through Z350.

Dole Lettuce – 16 sick with 2 deaths in 13 states – 2021

Illnesses: As of December 17, 2021, 16 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from 13 states: Idaho, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin. Illnesses started on dates ranging from August 16, 2014, to October 17, 2021. Sick people range in age from 50 to 94 years, with a median age of 76, and 81% are female. Of 14 people with information available, 12 have been hospitalized. Two deaths have been reported from Michigan and Wisconsin. WGS 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.

Traceback and Recall: In October 2021, the Georgia Department of Agriculture identified the outbreak strain of Listeria in a Dole brand garden salad as part of a routine sampling program of food at grocery stores. As a result, Dole recalled some of their garden salad products that are now past their “best if used by” dates. This sampling was not part of this outbreak investigation, but WGS later showed that the Listeria bacteria in the garden salad were closely related to the outbreak strain. After CDC reopened this outbreak investigation, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development collected samples of packaged salads from retail stores for testing and identified the outbreak strain of Listeria in a Marketside brand package of shredded iceberg that was produced by Dole. On December 22, 2021, Dole recalled all Dole-branded and private label packaged salads processed at the two facilities that produced the contaminated packaged salads.

Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) is a foodborne disease-causing bacterium; the disease is called listeriosis. Listeria can invade the body through a normal and intact gastrointestinal tract. Once in the body, Listeria can travel through the blood stream but Listeria bacteria are often found inside cells. Listeria also produces toxins that damage cells. Image (c) Dennis Kunkel Microscopy, Inc.

NOTE: earliest illness from JULY 26, 2016.

  • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and our state and local partners, is working to investigate a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections associated with the consumption of packaged salad.
  • To date, this outbreak has been associated with 10 illnesses, 10 hospitalizations and one death spanning the following states: IL, MA, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA and VA. Illnesses started on dates ranging from July 26, 2016, to Oct. 19, 2021.
  • Consumers who have symptoms of listeriosis infection should contact their health care provider. Most people with listeriosis include a fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. If the more severe form of listeriosis develops, symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. For the very young, the elderly and the immune-compromised, listeriosis can result in death.
  • Fresh Express voluntarily ceased production at their Streamwood, Illinois, facility and initiated a recall of certain varieties of its branded and private label salad products produced at the company’s Streamwood, Illinois, facility. The recall includes all Use-By Dates of fresh salad items with product codes Z324 through Z350.
  • Consumers, restaurants and retailers, should not eat, sell or serve recalled packaged salads. A full list of recalled products is available on the FDA’s website.
  • The FDA recommends that anyone who received recalled products use extra vigilance in cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces and containers that may have come in contact with these products to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. Listeria can survive in refrigerated temperatures and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces.
  • This is an ongoing investigation, and additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

Oregon Lox Company of Eugene, Oregon is issuing a voluntary recall of various brands of Wild Cold Smoked Keta Salmon Lox, specific lot number 22821, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria rnonocytogenes, an organism which 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.

The affected Wild Cold Smoked Keta Salmon product was distributed in Alaska, California, Oregon, and Washington through dis tributors. Product was shipped frozen on common carriers.

The affected Wild Cold Smoked Keta Salmon is packaged in plastic vacuum sealed packages and sold in various brands, sizes, and weights (see attached labels) . The recalled products brands and lot number are indicated in the table below:

Batch Lot
(indicated on label back of product)		 Product Description
(indicated on label)
22821 Aqua Nova Sliced Nova Lox 3oz package
22821 Aqua Nova Sliced Nova Lox 1lb pack
22821 Aqua Nova Premium Oregon Nova Lox (Sliced)
22821 North Coast Traditional Nova Lox
22821 North Coast Smoked Salmon Trim 3lb
22821 Aqua Nova Premium Oregon Nova Lox (UnSliced)
22821 Tony’s Smoked Salmon Lox 8oz pack

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this product.

The recall was the result of a routine sampling by the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

The purpose of this announcement is to advise you that Fullei Fresh is voluntarily recalling Bean Sprouts and Soy Sprouts as a precaution due to possible exposure to listeria monocytogenes. Affected lots are numbered consecutively between 251 and 271. They were harvested and shipped to distributors between September 14 and October 5, 2021. Both conventional and organic bean sprouts as well as soy sprouts are voluntarily recalled. No other products are affected at this time as they are grown and packed in segregated departments.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which 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, a Listeria monocytogenes infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

There have been no known illnesses reported in connection with these products.

Fullei Fresh conventional bean sprouts are sold in 5 lb bulk, 10 lb bulk and 8 oz retail packs. Organic bean sprouts are sold in 5 lb bulk and 4 oz retail packs. Soy sprouts are sold in 5 lb bulk and 10 lb bulk. The lot numbers are printed on the retail packs and on bulk cardboard boxes in the barcode (the last 3 digits.)

Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling Cahill Cheddar Porter and Whiskey Cheddar Cheeses from 44 stores across 22 states because of a potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes. Customers who have purchased should not consume and should dispose of the product. No illnesses have been reported to date.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, pregnant women, 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, stillbirths, and fetal infection among pregnant women.

The affected products were packaged in clear wrapping and sold in the specialty department with a Whole Foods Market scale label with “packed on” dates from May 17 – July 26, 2021. Affected products can be identified by the following information and were distributed in the states listed below:

Product Name PLU Date Range Sold States
Cheddar with Porter 93579 May 17 – July 26, 2021 Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Whiskey Cheddar 54784
94884

The issue was discovered when Whole Foods Market was notified by a distributor of a positive test result for Listeria monocytogenes.

As of July 2, 2021, three people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from Delaware and Texas. Illnesses started on dates ranging from April 6, 2021, to June 5, 2021.

Sick people range in age from 60 to 95 years, with a median age of 89, and 66% are male. All three people were hospitalized, and one death has been reported from Texas.

The true number of sick people in an outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Listeria. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.

State and local public health officials interviewed people about the foods they ate in the month before they got sick. All three people were in a long-term care facility or hospital when they got sick. These facilities served many food items, including meals with precooked chicken.

Public health investigators are using the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that may be part of this outbreak. CDC PulseNet manages a national database of DNA fingerprints of bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses. DNA fingerprinting is performed on bacteria using a method called whole genome sequencing (WGS).

WGS showed that bacteria from sick people’s samples are identical. This suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from the same food.

USDA-FSIS found the outbreak strain of Listeria in two samples of precooked chicken products during routine product testing. Along with the epidemiologic data, this suggests that people likely got sick from eating precooked chicken.

USDA-FSIS and state partners are collecting food purchase records from the long-term care facility and hospital to identify a common precooked chicken product that may be making people sick.

Until we learn more, CDC is advising people at higher risk for severe Listeria illness and facilities caring for them to take extra precautions: reheat precooked chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F, and do not eat cold dishes made with precooked chicken unless the chicken was reheated before being used in the dish.

Tyson Foods Inc., a Dexter, Mo. establishment, is recalling approximately 8,492,832 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The frozen, fully cooked chicken products were produced between December 26, 2020 and April 13, 2021. The products that are subject to recall are listed here. View the labels here.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. P-7089” on the product bag or inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped nationwide to retailers and institutions, including hospitals, nursing facilities, restaurants, schools and Department of Defense locations.

On June 9, 2021, FSIS was notified of two persons ill with listeriosis. Working in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state public health partners, FSIS determined there is evidence linking the Listeria monocytogenesillnesses to precooked chicken produced at Tyson Foods Inc. The epidemiologic investigation identified three listeriosis illnesses, including one death, between April 6, 2021 and June 5, 2021. During routine sample collection, FSIS collected two precooked chicken samples from two establishments that are closely related genetically to Listeria monocytogenes from ill people. One of the samples was collected at Tyson Foods Inc. FSIS is continuing to work with federal and state public health partners to determine if there are additional illnesses linked to these products.

Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumer and institutional freezers. Consumers should not eat these products. Institutions should not serve these products. These products should be thrown away.

Empire Fruit Inc. of Othello, WA, is recalling “SCORE Montmorency Tart Cherry Juice” because of a potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

The recalled product was distributed to customers in Auburn and Basin City, WA.

The recall was initiated after a routine inspection conducted by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) revealed that two batches of SCORE Montmorency Tart Cherry Juice were not adequately pasteurized.

There is concern that consumers may have the juice in their homes because of its long shelf life. The recalled product was sold in 16-ounce plastic bottles with the best-by dates of 2/15/2022 and 2/16/2022.

As of the posting of this recall, there are no known illnesses associated with the recalled product.

Consumers who have purchased the recalled SCORE Montmorency Tart Cherry Juice are urged not to drink the product and return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Banner Smoked Fish, Inc. of Brooklyn, NY is voluntarily expending recalling its SMOKED FISH, SALADS, PICKLED FISH PRODUCTS, and CREAM SAUCE PRODUCTS (product names and photos of labels are listed below) of all products within expiry, in all package sizes, all package types and all lots. The recall is because the products have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which 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.

The recalled smoked fish were distributed through retails and distributions, also online purchasing in NY, NJ, IL, PA, CA, FL, NE, AZ, MA, MD, VA, NV, OR, WI, NC, SC, and GA area.

The product comes in various sizes in both air pack and vacuum packages. The lot number or sell by date are placed on the back of the package.

The products were found to be processed under unsanitary condition. The problem was discovered through FDA routine inspection. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

Product name
1. Barbeque Spiced Smoked Nova Salmon
2. Brook Trout
3. Center Sliced Smoked Norwegian Style Salmon
4. Everything Spiced Smoked Nova Salmon
5. Finest Sliced Salty Lox
6. Finest Sliced Smoked Nova Salmon
7. Irish Cured Smoked Salmon
8. Lox Trimmings
9. Mackerel
10. Naturally Smoked Nova Salmon
11. Noon Hour Smoked Salmon
12. Norwegian Style Smoked Salmon
13. Nova Atlantic Salmon
14. Nova Bits
15. Nova Homarus
16. Nova Lox
17. Nova Salmon
18. Nova Salmon Bagel Cuts
19. Pastrami Nova Atlantic Salmon
20. Pastrami Style Smoked Nova Salmon
21. Pepper Crusted Smoked Nova Salmon
22. Presliced Gravad Lox
23. Presliced Pastrami Style Salmon
24. Presliced Pastrami Style Salmon
25. Presliced Scotch Style Salmon
26. Presliced Scotch Style Salmon
27. Presliced Scotch Style Smoked Salmon
28. Presliced Smoked Atlantic Salmon
29. Sable
30. Sliced Gravlax
31. Sliced Pastrami Style Nova
32. Sliced Smoked Norwegian Style Salmon
33. Sliced Smoked Salmon
34. Sliced Smoked Scotch Style Salmon
35. Smoked Nova Bagel Cuts
36. Smoked Nova Lox
37. Smoked Nova Salmon
38. Smoked Sliced Nova Salmon
39. Smoked Trout
40. Somga
41. Trimmed Nova
42. Whitefish
43. 5 LB HERRING SALAD
44. 5 LB WHITEFISH SALAD
45. 5 LB KIPPERED SALMON SALAD
46. ATLANTIC NOVA SALMON
47. BROOK TROUT FILLET
48. CHILE LOX
49. CHUNKS
50. COLD SMOKED TUNA
51. COLD SMOKED WHITEFISH
52. CREAM SAUCE
53. DRY WHITEFISH
54. EUROPEAN GOURMET NOVA SALMON
55. GRAVAD LOX
56. GROUND NOVA
57. HOMARUS NORWEGIAN
58. KIPPERED SALMON
59. KIPPERED SALMON MEAT
60. MARSHALL NOVA
61. PEPPER CRUSTED SMOKED NOVA
62. PICKLED HERRING FILLET
63. PICKLED LOX
64. PRESLICED SMOKED NOVA SALMON
65. SCOTCH STYLE SALMON
66. SEABASS
67. SLICED ESCOLAR
68. SLICED SABLE
69. SLICED SMOKED NOVA SALMON
70. SLICED SMOKED NOVA TRAY
71. SLICED SMOKED PASTRAMI STYLE NOVA
72. SMOKED ESCOLAR
73. SMOKED CHUBS
74. SMOKED PASTRAMI STYLE SALMON
75. HERRING TID BITS IN CREAM
76. HERRING TID BITS IN WINE
77. TROUT
78. TURBOT
79. WHITEFISH MEAT
80. WHITEFISH SALAD MARSHALL
81. HERRING WHOLE FILLETS IN WINE
82. WHOLE LOX

Link to Initial Recall

Smilin’ Bob’s is voluntarily recalling Smilin’ Bob’s Original Smoked Fish Dip and Smilin’ Bob’s All Natural Smoked Fish Dip. This recall is being initiated as a result of the Banner Smoked Fish, Inc. recall of smoked fish due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Smilin’ Bob’s used the recalled smoked fish from Banner Smoked Fish, Inc in the products listed below. The recall is issued only for products listed below.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which 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.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

Smilin’ Bob’s is working with distributors and retailers to quarantine and recover any impacted product remaining on store shelves. A total of 1,261 cases were distributed to retailers in the states of FL, GA, AL, SC, TN, NC, and VA.

HOW TO IDENTIFY THE RECALLED PRODUCT:

The containers have the “Best If Use By” dates stated below printed on the side of each container and the lot number stated for each product on the side or the lid (see attached pictures). This recall applies only to the products with the “Best If Use By” dates stated below.

Product Size Best If Used By dates
Printed on container side		 12 Pack
Case		 Date of
Distribution
Smilin’ Bob’s Key West
Style Original Smoked
Fish Dip		 8 ounce round
plastic container		 Aug 03 2021
Aug 10 2021		 878 cases May 24 2021
June 4 2021
Smilin’ Bob’s Key West
Style Original Smoked
Fish Dip		 15.5 ounce
plastic container		 Aug 03 2021
Aug 10 2021		 335 cases May 27 2021
May 25 2021
May 31 2021
Smilin’ Bob’s All Natural
Smoked Fish Dip		 8 ounce round
plastic container		 Aug 10 2021 48 cases June 4 2021

Smilin’ Bob’s determined to voluntarily recall the products listed after being notified that Banner Smoked Fish. Inc. had expanded its recall.