On the 7th of April, 2023 the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced Fresh Express Incorporated’s voluntary recall of salad kits due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The possible health risk was discovered during a routine inspection by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, where the presence of Listeria was found to be in a random sample of salad.
The affected products were listed by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) with their full product and brand name, weight, UPC and product code, Use-By-Date, and the states which the salad kits were distributed to. It reads as following:
| Brand | Product | Ounce | UPC Codes | Product Code | Use-By Date | Distribution States |
| Fresh Express | Caesar Chopped Kit | 9.40 | 00071279309194 | G075 | 4/2/2023 | FL, GA, NC, SC |
| Fresh Express | Chopped Kit Chipotle Cheddar | 11.3 | 00071279306049 | G075 | 4/2/2023 | FL, GA, NC, SC, VA |
| Publix | Makoto Honey Ginger Salad Kit | 8.75 | 00071279309194 | G075 | 3/31/2023 | Fl, GA, NC |
According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the found Listeria monocytogenes are known to often “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.”
One National Food Poisoning Lawyer interviewed for this story stated:
“Listeria is a disease which affects primarily persons of advanced age, pregnant women, newborns, and those with weakened immune systems. However, persons without these risk factors can also be affected, suffering more mild symptoms. A person with listeriosis often experiences fever, muscle aches, and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions can occur. These individuals are often diagnosed with bacterial meningitis or encephalitis. These are serious conditions and can be fatal.”
Individuals who experience the afore-listed symptoms, particularly after consumption of Fresh Express Incorporated’s salad kits, should seek out medical attention promptly.
While the Fresh Express Incorporated salad kits listed above are no longer for sale, there may be some still in customer’s homes. These customers should return the product to the location of purchase for a full refund.
