Last week s a result of a routine sampling program by the USDA – Microbiological Date Program (MDP) it was revealed that the cilantro harvested from July 18th to July 27th has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Fresco Green Farm is taking this matter as high priority and has made extreme quality control measures to identify if any cilantro is contaminated prior to shipping to distributors and retail markets.

059_2012.jpgToday Real Mex Foods, a Vernon, Calif. establishment, recalled approximately 77,688 pounds of Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad Kits. The salad kits include dressing made with cilantro that is the subject of a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recall by Fresco Green Farms Inc., due to possible Salmonella contamination, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.  The products subject to recall are:

  • 36-oz. trays of “El Torito Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad Kit.”
  • 18-lb. cases that contain eight (8) 36-oz. trays of “EL TORITO Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad Kit.”

Originally Fresco Green Farms Inc. of Winchester, CA is recalled 1,643 cases of Cilantro harvested from July 18th 2012 to July 27th 2012, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, 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. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis. Consumers who believe they have purchased the affected cilantro should dispose of it and it should not be consumed.

The cilantro was on store shelves in California and Minnesota beginning July 19, 2012 and likely sold or removed from sale before August 6, 2012. There have been no illnesses reported. The cilantro is bunched and tied together with a brown rubber band. Each bunch has the following dimensions; 10 inches of length and 1 ¼ width. The individual bunches have no identifying labels or lot numbers. They were distributed in shipping cases labeled “Fresco Green Farms Inc., Hemet, CA. Produce of USA cilantro 2.5dz “ Consumers who may have purchased the cilantro should contact the store where hey purchased it to determine whether the cilantro was included in the recall.

Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of Salmonella outbreaks. The Salmonella lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of Salmonella and other foodborne illness outbreaks and have recovered over $600 million for clients.  Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation.  Our Salmonella lawyers have litigated Salmonella cases stemming from outbreaks traced to a variety of foods, such as cantaloupe, tomatoes, ground turkey, salami, sprouts, cereal, peanut butter, and food served in restaurants.  The law firm has brought Salmonella lawsuits against such companies as Cargill, ConAgra, Peanut Corporation of America, Sheetz, Taco Bell, Subway and Wal-Mart. 

If you or a family member became ill with a Salmonella infection, including Reactive Arthritis or Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark Salmonella attorneys for a free case evaluation.