VA, DC Recall Of Dole Packaged Salads For Listeria Risk

WASHINGTON, DC — Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc. expanded a voluntary recall of packaged salads containing iceberg lettuce because of a risk of listeria contamination, federal officials announced this week. Products were distributed in two dozen other states, including Virginia and the District.

If consumers have lettuce that is part of the recall, the produce should be thrown out immediately, officials said.

"Consumers who still have any of these products in their refrigerators are urged not to consume the product and to discard it immediately," the company said in a statement posted by the Food and Drug Administration.

The company issued a recall in December after two people died and 16 people became ill after consuming Dole salads, KTLA reported.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can be deadly and can cause serious infection in young children, immunocompromised or older people, according to the FDA.

Healthy people may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain or diarrhea. Listeria can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, according to the FDA.

The expanded recall included Dole and private-label packages that include iceberg lettuce. The lettuce was processed in Springfield, Ohio, and Soledad, California, according to the company.

No illnesses were reported preceding the most recent recall, which included DC and Virginia.

The equipment used to harvest iceberg lettuce tested positive for listeria, according to Dole.

Possibly compromised products from Springfield included a product code beginning with the letter "W" and a "best if used by" date between Dec. 22, 2021, and last Sunday.

Products voluntarily recalled from Soledad were identified by a product code beginning with the letter "B" and a "best if used by" date between Dec. 23, 2021, and last Saturday.

"No other Dole products, including fresh fruit and field-packed fresh vegetables, are part of these voluntary recalls and are safe to consume," the company said.

Direct questions about the recall to the Dole Consumer Response Center, 800-356-3111, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pacific Time.