In 2021, five food poisoning outbreaks were linked to packaged salads. Together these salad products, contaminated with  E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria, sickened more than 80 people, three of whom died.

Food Poisoning from Packaged Salad

 

Simple Truth and Nature’s Basket Organic Power Greens E. coli Outbreak

A Simple Truth and Nature’s Basket organic power greens E. coli outbreak has sickened 10 people in four states,  according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The ongoing outbreak has hospitalized four people, one of whom has hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a form of kidney failure that is a complication of E. coli infections.

Nature’s Basket is a Giant Eagle store brand, and Simple Truth is a Kroger brand. The Kroger family of stores includes Baker’s, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Foods Co, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Gerbes, Jay C, Food Store, King Soopers, Kroger, Mariano’s, Metro Market, Pay-Less Super Markets, Pick’n Save, QFC, Ralphs and Rule.

A recall for these products was not issued because they passed their “best by” dates.

Symptoms of an E. coli infection include abdominal cramps and diarrhea that can be bloody. These symptoms usually develop within one to three days of exposure. The people in this outbreak, who range in age from 26 to 79 years old, said they first experienced symptoms on dates ranging from November 27, 2021, to December 9, 2021.

The number of illnesses reported from each state is: Alaska (2), Ohio (1), Oregon (1), and Washington (6).

Dole Salad Listeria Outbreak

Listeria outbreak linked to Dole salads, and salads made by Dole but sold under other brand names, is one of two ongoing fatal Listeria outbreaks linked to prepackaged salad, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This multi-year outbreak includes 16 illnesses and two fatalities.

On December 22, 2021, Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc., of Monterey, CA issued a recall for all Dole-branded and private label packaged salads processed at its production facilities in Bessemer City, NC, and Yuma, AZ. These salads were sold under the brand names Ahold, Dole, Kroger, Lidl, Little Salad Bar, Marketside, Naturally Better, Nature’s Promise and Simply Nature.

On January 7, 2022, Dole issued an expansion of the Listeria recall to include Dole-branded and private label packaged salads containing iceberg lettuce that were processed at its facilities in Soledad, CA, and Springfield, OH, where salads linked to a Listeria outbreak in 2016 were packaged.

This outbreak has been ongoing for a number of years. The CDC began investigating it in 2019 and 2020 but wasn’t able to gather enough data to identify the source. The 16 patients, who range in age from 50 to 94 years old, reported the onset of symptoms on dates ranging from August 16, 2014, to October 17, 2021. All but one of the illnesses were reported between September 2018 and October 2021.

Symptoms of a Listeria infection include high fever, stiff neck, other muscle stiffness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, confusion and loss of balance. Among pregnant women, Listeria can cause miscarriage and stillbirth.

The states reporting illnesses include: Idaho (1), Iowa (2), Maryland (1), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Nevada (1), North Carolina (1), Ohio (2), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania, (1), Texas (2), Utah (1) and Wisconsin (1).

Fresh Express Salad Listeria Outbreak

The Fresh Express salad Listeria outbreak, the other ongoing Listeria outbreak linked to packaged salads, includes 10 illnesses and one death. And it is also a multi-year outbreak.

The people sickened in this outbreak, who range in age from 44 to 95 years old, reported onset of symptoms on dates ranging from July 26, 2016 through October 19, 2021. All of them were hospitalized. The fatality occurred in Pennsylvania,

On December 20, 2021, Fresh Express issued a recall for salads produced at its facility in Streamwood, IL.  These salads were sold under the Fresh Express brand name and store brand names Wellsley Farms, Weis, Simply Nature, Signature Farms, O Organics, Marketside, Market District, Giant Eagle, and Bowl & Basket. They were sold nationwide at stores including at BJ’s, Weis Markets, ALDI, Albertsons, Walmart, GiantEagle, ShopRite.

Josie’s Organics Baby Spinach Outbreak 

The Josie’s Organics baby spinach E. coli O157:H7 outbreak included 15 illnesses in 10 states. Four people were hospitalized, three of them with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a form of kidney failure associated with E. coli infections.  The people sickened, who ranged in age from 1 to 76 years old, reported illnesses starting on dates ranging from October 13, 2021, to November 8, 2021.

Whole genome sequencing tests performed on the E. coli cultured from the patients showed the strains were closely related indicating they got sick from the same food. Minnesota health officials collected and tested leftover Josie’s Organics baby spinach from a patient’s home and it was positive for E. coli O157. Further tests confirmed that the genetic fingerprint was similar to the strain cultured from the patients. A recall was not issued because the “best by” date on the implicated product was had passed.

The number of illnesses reported from each state is: California (1), Indiana (4), Iowa (1), Michigan (1), Minnesota (2), Missouri (1), Nebraska (1), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (1), and South Dakota (1).

BrightFarms Salad Salmonella Outbreak

Salmonella outbreak linked to BrightFarms prepackaged salad sickened 31 illnesses in four states from June 10, 2021, to August 18, 2021.  Four people were hospitalized.

Health officials used genetic testing to identify the genetic fingerprint of the Salmonella Typhimurium strain associated with this outbreak. The four states reporting illnesses were Illinois (18),  Wisconsin (10), Pennsylvania (2) and Michigan (1)  The patients ranged in age from less than 1 year to 86 years.

Symptoms of a Salmonella infection usually develop within 6 to 72 hours of exposure and include abdominal cramps, nausea, fever, and diarrhea.

Experienced Food Poisoning Lawyers

If you were sickened after eating a packaged salad and would like a free consultation with an experienced food poisoning lawyer, please contact the Pritzker Hageman Food Poisoning Legal Team. We have represented clients in every major food poisoning outbreak in the U.S. You can reach us by calling 1-888-377-8900, sending a text to 612-261-0856, or by completing the form below. There is no obligation and you don’t pay us unless we win.