FDA, Other Heath Authorities Investigating Listeria Outbreak Possibly Linked To Salad Mix

Health authorities are investigating a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections possibly related to a salad mix.

Routine sampling of Fresh Express Sweet Hearts salad mix by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) turned up positive with Listeria monocytogenes, and whole-genome sequencing revealed that the strain actually matched the one that has been causing illnesses in a Listeria outbreak, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

There have been 10 illnesses, 10 hospitalizations and one death reported in the outbreak as of Dec. 21. The illness started on dates ranging from July 26, 2016, to more recently on Oct. 19, 2021, with the cases being reported from Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Upon learning of the results, Fresh Express stopped all production at its Streamwood, Ill. facility, where the tested salad mix was produced, and voluntarily recalled some of its branded and private label salad products. These were distributed in several U.S. states as well as the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba.

The FDA, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state and local partners are now investigating the outbreak.

"Our investigation is ongoing, and we will continue to communicate should additional products be implicated," Frank Yiannas, FDA deputy commissioner for food policy and response, said as per the FDA press announcement. "We will continue to work with our partners and with Fresh Express to determine the source of this outbreak. We remain committed to transparency and providing updates as we learn more during our continuing traceback investigation."

Those who have the recalled salad products are being advised to clean and sanitize surfaces or containers that may have been in contact with the items. Noting that these individuals should have "extra vigilance," the FDA explained that Listeria can actually survive temperatures in the refrigerator and can spread to surfaces and foods "easily."

Listeriosis, the illness that is typically caused by eating food contaminated with Listeria, may cause symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, diarrhea and vomiting, although it can also lead to a more severe illness. Listeriosis can even be deadly for those who are very young, the elderly and the immunocompromised.

Pregnant women are also 10 times more likely to get a Listeria infection compared to other people. It can cause stillbirths, miscarriages and pre-term labor. It can also cause serious illness or even death in newborns.

It is estimated that 1,600 people in the U.S. get listeriosis each year. According to the CDC, it is the "third leading cause of death from food poisoning" in the country.