In the course of the investigation, it was found that the Listeria outbreak was linked to Dole packaged salads. One person has died and 12 more people have been hospitalized.
The CDC announced today that although the investigation began in September 2015, the source of these illnesses wasn’t known until January 2016 when the laboratory result from packaged salad collected in Ohio linked the illnesses to the Dole processing facility in Springfield, Ohio.
Dole Food Company issued a voluntary market withdrawal of the packaged salads in 23 states nationwide and in Three provinces in Canada a few hours after the CDC announcement.
CTV News Canada is reporting the outbreak, which in Canada, dates back to July, is linked to salads sold under the brand names Dole, Fresh Selections, Simple Truth, Marketside, The Little Salad Bar and PC Organics.
“Retailers and consumers who have any remaining product with an ‘A’ code should not consume it, and are urged to discard it,” according to the withdrawal notice on the Food and Drug Administration website.
Dole salads and private label packaging include the following:
Dole;
Fresh Selections;
Simple Truth;
Marketside;
The Little Salad Bar; and
President’s Choice.
Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc., is temporarily suspending operations at its Springfield, Ohio production facility. All Dole Brand and private label packaged salads processed at that location are being recalled in the U.S. and Canada. No other Dole packaging facilities are affected by this notice. In other words, product codes beginning with the letters “B” or “N” are not part of this recall.
Retailers and consumers who have any remaining product with an “A” code should not consume it, and are urged to discard it. Retailers and consumers with questions about this recall should contact Dole Food Company Consumer Response Center at 800-356-3111) (hours are 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday).
Listeria cases in Canada update
On Wednesday, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) reported in an update they were still investigating a Listeria outbreak involving a number of people in six provinces, that included three cases in Ontario and one each in Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Seven people had been hospitalized. The illnesses started in September 2015, and lasted up until early January this year. The PHAC said leafy green salads and salad blends and salad kits have been under investigation.
