The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced today that 12 people have been hospitalized and one has died from a listeria outbreak that has been linked to prepackaged salads produced by Dole Food Company in its Springfield, Ohio facility. The outbreak may also been connected to listeria illnesses in five Canadian provinces. The Public Health Agency of Canada said today that it is working with U.S. health and regulatory officials in an investigation of the Dole plant.
On Friday, Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc. said that it is temporarily suspending operations at the Springfield facility. They also announced on Thursday that they are pulling from grocery store shelves all Dole-branded and private label packaged salads produced at that plant.
As well as being sold under the Dole name, the salads appear under private label brands such as Marketside (Walmart), Fresh Selections (Kroger), Simple Truth (natural/organic label for Kroger), Little Salad Bar (Aldi), and President’s Choice, which is sold at Canadian stores Loblaws Cos. Ltd.
The 12 people hospitalized have been from six U.S. states: Indiana, Michigan, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. One person from Michigan has died. The listeria reports began July 5. In Canada, seven people have been hospitalized and they also have recorded a death related to listeria of the same strain as is found in the U.S.
Listeriosis is an infection caused by consuming foods that are contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Those at particular risk for being severely infected include newborns, pregnant mothers, people with weakened immune systems and adults aged 65 and older. Symptoms include muscle aches and gastrointestinal symptoms.
According to the CDC, there is no apparent link to listeria and packaged salads produced at other Dole processing plants. Dole said on Jan. 22 that the products being withdrawn can be identified as having a code in the upper right-hand corner of the package that begins with the letter “A.” They are encouraging anyone who may have the affected products in their home to discard them immediately and thoroughly clean any surfaces they might have touched.
At least one outbreak of listeria has been recorded every year since 2011, and has been linked primarily to prepackaged foods and dairy products. Last spring, Blue Bell Creameries, ranked as the number one brand of ice cream in the country in 2014, recalled all products after a listeria outbreak connected to their product occurred in four states.