Salmonella Blog - Surveillance & analysis on salmonella news & outbreaks

May 24, 2010 – Salinas, California – Fresh Express, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chiquita Brands International, is voluntarily recalling a specific selection of Fresh Express Romaine-based ready-to-eat salads with the expired Use-by Dates of May 13th through May 16th and an "S" in the Product Code because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The recall extends only to products with these Use-by Dates and Product Codes and sold in the following states: Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Nebraska, Montana, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Nevada, Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota. No other Fresh Express salads are included in the recall.

The recall notification is being issued out of an abundance of caution based on an isolated instance in which a single package of Fresh Express Hearts of Romaine Salad with a use by date of May 15 was confirmed positive for Salmonella in a random sample test conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Salmonella is an organism that may cause fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and possibly bloody diarrhea in healthy individuals. It can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Consumers with these symptoms should consult their health care provider.

Because it is still possible that products bearing the Use-by Dates of May 13th -16th and an "S" in the Product Code could be on store shelves, this recall extends to retailers as well as consumers. Fresh Express’ experience is that it is highly unlikely that any of the potentially affected salads are still on store shelves or for sale to consumers due to the expired Use-by Dates. Fresh Express believes that it is important to alert consumers who might still possess one of the potentially affected expired salads to immediately dispose of it.

Fresh Express is collaborating closely with FDA and immediately upon learning of the single confirmed positive test completed a companywide product traceability review.

Salads included in the recall notification include the specific selection of Fresh Express Romaine-based salads listed below with Use-by Dates of May 13th through May 16th and an "S" in the Produce Code. No other Fresh Express salads are included in the recall.
Instructions for Consumers:

Check your refrigerator for Fresh Express Romaine-based salads with use-by dates of May 13th through May 16th and an "S" in the Product Code. The Use-by Date is found in the upper right hand corner of the package with the Product Code located immediately underneath. For Fresh Express Gourmet Café Salads, the Use-by Date and Product Code are located on the bottom of the salad bowl.

Consumers who may have potentially affected product are asked to make a note of the Use-by Date and Product Code, immediately dispose of the product, and contact a Fresh Express consumer representative toll-free at (800) 242-5472, 24 hours per day, Monday - Friday, to obtain a full refund.

Instructions for Retailers:

All Product Codes indicated are well-beyond their Use-by Date, however, retailers are asked to reconfirm with their distribution centers and all individual stores to ensure that no product remains in their inventory or at store locations. A separate letter and instructions will be forwarded to all relevant Fresh Express customers. For additional details, retailers are asked to contact their Fresh Express customer service representative.

Complete Listing of Recalled Fresh Express Salad Products, Use-by Dates and Product Codes

Caldwell Fresh Foods, of Maywood, CA, is voluntarily recalling all alfalfa sprouts manufactured under the Caldwell Fresh Foods, Nature's Choice, and California Exotics brands, because the alfalfa sprouts may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Consumers with the above symptoms should consult their physician.

Caldwell alfalfa sprouts have been associated with an outbreak of Salmonella Newport that has sickened more than 20 people in 10 states, including 11 people in California. The latest known illness is May 2, 2010; many of those who have become sick reported eating raw alfalfa sprouts. There have been no deaths reported, but 4 cases have been hospitalized.

The recalled alfalfa sprouts are labeled and packaged as follows:

• Caldwell Fresh Foods - 4-ounce plastic cups and one pound plastic bags, and 2-pound and 5 pound plastic bags in cardboard boxes with sticker affixed with the printed words Caldwell Fresh Foods.
• Nature's Choice - 4-ounce plastic cups
• California Exotics brands - 5-ounce plastic clamshell containers

The alfalfa sprouts were distributed to a variety of restaurants, delicatessens and retailers nationwide. In California, our products are sold at Kings Super Market, Numero Uno Stores, Cárdenas Markets, Trader Joe's Stores, Gonzalez Northgate Markets, Wal-Mart stores, Jons Markets, and Canton Foods.

Caldwell Fresh Foods alfalfa sprouts not affected by this recall will have a bright, round, green sticker affixed to the lids and labels.

On May 13, 2010, U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) added 16 companies to Import Alert #16-81, “Detention Without Physical Examination of Seafood Products Due to the Presence of Salmonella”. (IA 16-81). FDA has enforcement jurisdiction and promulgates regulations related to all seafood products. This applies to both imported and domestic seafood. According to Benjamin L. England, of FDAImports.com, LLC, “…this Import Alert consolidates three prior FDA Alerts. This Alert covers food manufacturers from countries all over the globe. Because these shipments are detained without even being inspected, even clean shipments will end up detained. If a foreign company is unlucky enough to be on this Red List, significant and unnecessary added costs will be applied to each of their shipments. Successfully petitioning FDA to get off the Import Alert, though often time-consuming, is essential to making a profit and gaining market share in the U.S. seafood market.”

Hundreds of manufacturers have already been placed on Import Alert #16-81, charged with shipping seafood contaminated with Salmonella. In order for a product or manufacturer to be placed on IA 16-81 -- which automatically detains the product at the Customs Port of Entry without inspecting the product -- the foreign firm needs only to have shipped Salmonella contaminated seafood to the USA once. “Getting placed on this Alert can devastate a seafood processor,” stated Mr. England, “largely because it results in expensive delays, storage fees, shipping charges and private lab testing. Somebody has to pay for all of that and often the importer places that cost on the foreign processor.”

With the recent infusion of taxpayer funds this fiscal year (2010) and another proposed increase for the next, FDA has significantly added more inspection and testing resources to track down violations and enforce US requirements at the border. With added money also comes more political incentive for strong FDA enforcement.

If you are a manufacturer and have a product that has been placed on IA 16-81, currently have entries subject to detention for alleged Salmonella contamination, or are concerned about your firm’s FDA compliance, let FDAImports.com, LLC show you "the way through.” FDAImports.com, LLC is a consulting firm that can assist in avoiding being placed on the Red List of an Import Alert, as well as advise and correct violations in order to be removed from Import Alert #16-81 and get your products back on the market. Don’t let a Warning Letter or a Release with Comment progress into being Red Listed on Import Alert #16-81. FDAImports.com urges manufacturers or importers who are in one of the above mentioned situations, or who desire to avoid costly business problems, to contact them promptly for advice adapted to your specific situation.

According to press reports, 22 people have been sickened after eating at the same restaurant and health officials on Friday said they suspect it was the result of salmonella.  The health department said all of the people who became ill ate at the restaurant over the weekend.  Health department spokesman Charles Hammer said the restaurant was immediately inspected.

"Everything is currently in order," Hammer said. "If we were to find a food service operation with an ongoing threat to the public health we would close that operation. this is not the case here."

Seven cases have been confirmed to be salmonella and lab results are pending on the others, Mallett reported.

"We eat there once a month at least if not more it's our favorite place to go," said diner Jaime Douglas. "My opinion would be that is it something that came into the place not something they have done."

Athens City-County Health Department officials are investigating an outbreak of salmonella poisoning.  Administrator Chuck Hammer says 12 people have shown symptoms so far.  Positive test results have come back on three of those people.  Hammer says six people have been hospitalized.

Many of the people have what Hammer calls a similar food history.  Hammer says investigators from his department have been out inspecting Casa Lopez on East State Street in Athens for the last couple of days.  He says nothing was found that would warrant closing the restaurant or a need to warn the public about it.  Casa Lopez remains a licensed operation.  Some items from the restaurant were taken for testing.

Douglas County Public Health officials and the Oregon Department of Human Services are investigating an outbreak of Salmonellosis that has been reported by local medical providers in the past week. Initial investigation results show that people who have become ill ate at Los Dos Amigos Restaurant on Jackson Street in downtown Roseburg between 04/09/2010 and 04/17/2010. “The restaurant is fully cooperative and working with our agencies to help identify the source and address any issues. At this point in time, no specific food item stands out as a likely source,” said Dawnelle Marshall, Public Health Division Director.