Romaine-based Salads Recalled In USA and Canada

E. coli O157:H7 found in FDA random sample of Fresh Express Hearts of Romaine salad
(Original post dated July 15, 2010. Updated July 17, 2010)

Fresh Express, a Chiquita company, has recalled all Fresh Express Romaine-based salads (listed below) with Use-by Dates of July 8 - 12 and an "S" in the Product Code. The company points out that all of the recalled salads have passed their expiration dates and should already have disappeared from store shelves.

The recalled salads were distributed in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Iowa, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming, Washington, and Nevada. No illnesses have been linked to the recalled salads.

UPC Code		Product Description		Production Code	Use By Date Range
71279	10802	Double Carrots (12 oz)		S174, S175	July 8-9, 2010
71279	10804	Green & Crisp (12 oz)		S174, S175	July 8-9, 2010
71279	10808	Premium Romaine (9 oz)		S174, S175, S176	July 8-10, 2010
71279	10809	Lettuce Trio (9 oz)		S175, S176	July 9-10, 2010
71279	21100	Italian (10 oz)		S174, S175, S176	July 8-10, 2010
71279	23201	Fancy Greens (7 oz)		S174, S175	July 8-9, 2010
71279	24100	American (12 oz)		S175, S176	July 11-12, 2010
71279	25101	5-Lettuce Mix (6 oz)		S175	July 9, 2010
71279	26102	Hearts of Romaine (10 oz)		S174, S175, S176	July 8-10, 2010
71279	26112	Leafy Green Romaine (9 oz)		S175	July 9, 2010
71279	26201	Hearts of Romaine (18 oz)		S174, S175	July 8-9, 2010
71279	28100	Veggie Lovers (12 oz)		S174, S175	July 8-9, 2010
71279	30100	Caesar Completes Kit (10 oz)		S175, S176	July 9-10, 2010
71279	30101	Caesar Lite Completes Kit (10 oz)		S175, S176	July 9-10, 2010
71279	30104	Caesar Supreme Completes Kit (10.8 oz)		S175, S176	July 9-10, 2010
71279	30105	BLT Caesar Completes Kit (10.5 oz)		S175	July 9, 2010
71279	30201	Asian Supreme Completes Kit (13.8 oz)		S175, S176	July 9-10, 2010
71279	30601	Salsa! Ensalada Supreme Completes Kit (14 oz)		S174, S175	July 8-9, 2010
71279	40701	Gourmet Cafe Chicken Caesar (7.8 oz)		S175	July 9, 2010
71279	40705	Gourmet Cafe Caribbean Chicken (8.6 oz)		S175	July 9, 2010
71279	40706	Gourmet Cafe Tuscan Chicken (7.8 oz)		S175	July 9, 2010
71279	26100	Romaine Chopped (32 oz)		S175	July 9, 2010

As usual, the FDA recall notice provides no information on which retailers carried the Fresh Express salads. Following is a partial US retail distribution list (to be updated as more information becomes available):

• Fred Meyer Stores (a Kroger Company banner): Oregon and Washington
• QFC Stores (a Kroger Company banner): Oregon and Washington
• Target Stores
• Top Food & Drug
  

The Fresh Express recall has triggered two separate Canadian recall notices so far. On July 14th – before news of the recall was even released in the United States – the Canadian Food Inspection Agency alerted Canadian consumers "... not to consume the Fresh Express brand Romaine-based Salads described below because these products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7." The recalled salads were known to be distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, and may have been distributed nationally.

Product (Size)	UPC	Production Code	Best Before
Double Carrots (340g)	0 71279 10802 5	S175	July 10, 2010
Green & Crisp (340g)	0 71279 10804 9	S175	July 10, 2010
Premium Romaine (255g)	0 71279 10808 7	S175	July 10, 2010
Lettuce Trio (255g)	0 71279 10809 4	S175	July 10, 2010
Italian (283g)	0 71279 21100 8	S175, S176	July 10-11, 2010
Fancy Greens (198g)	0 71279 23201 0	S174, S175	July 9-10, 2010
American (340g)	0 71279 24100 5	S175, S176	July 11-12, 2010
5-Lettuce Mix (170g)	0 71279 25101 1	S175	July 9, 2010
Hearts of Romaine (283g)	0 71279 26102 7	S175, S176	July 10-11, 2010
Triple Hearts (226g)	0 71279 26111 9	S175, S176	July 10-11, 2010
Leafy Green Romaine (255g)	0 71279 26112 6	S175	July 10, 2010
Veggie Lover’s (340g)	0 71279 28100 1	S175	July 10, 2010
Caesar Complete Salad (212g+74mL)	0 71279 30100 6	S175, S176	July 10-11, 2010
CaesarLite Complete Salad (212g+74mL)	0 71279 30101 3	S175, S176	July 10-11, 2010
Caesar Supreme Complete Salad (226g+81mL)	0 71279 30104 4	S175, S176	July 10-11, 2010
B.L.T. Caesar Complete Salad (226g+74mL)	0 71279 30107 5	S175	July 10, 2010
Asian Supreme Complete Salad (325g+74mL)	0 71279 30201 0	S175, S176	July 10-11, 2010
Salsa! Ensalada Supreme Complete Salad (326g+74mL)	0 71279 30601 8	S175	July 10, 2010

Separately, Canada Safeway Limited has recalled various Romaine-based store-made and Signature Café brand salads with Best Before dates of July 14 and 15, because the salads may contain one of the Fresh Express Romaine-based salads. Safeway's recall applied to the following salads, which were made and sold at Safeway stores in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan.

Brand	Product	Size	UPC
None	Garden Salad	300 g	214735
None	Busy Chef Salad	Various	214516
None	Chicken Caesar Salad	Various	219393
None	Greek Salad	Various	210585
Signature Café	Asian Chicken Salad	369 g	0 58200 13080 5
Signature Café	Chicken Caesar Salad	354 g	0 58200 13086 7
Signature Café	Cobb Salad	457 g	0 58200 13082 9
Signature Café	Seafood Salad	440 g	0 58200 13107 9
Signature Café	Santa Fe Salad	499 g	0 58200 13084 3
Signature Café	Buffalo Chicken Side Salad	255 g	0 58200 13098 0
Signature Café	Caesar Side Salad	140 g	0 58200 13103 1
Signature Café	Garden Fresh Side Salad	170 g	0 58200 13105 5
Signature Café	Spicy Thai Chicken Side Salad	200 g	0 58200 13096 6

This article will be updated as additional retail distribution information becomes available. If you know of a retailer who sold one or more of the recalled salads and who is not yet included in this list, please post a comment, below or email me directly.


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