Lettuce Listeria Outbreak

Posted in Listeria,Our Blog,Outbreaks & Recalls on April 15, 2023

An FDA recall this week has hinted that there is a lettuce listeria outbreak right under our noses. The CDC and FDA have not made an announcement yet of such outbreak, but the lettuce manufacturer, Revolution Farms, has states in their recall notice: “the recalled product was epidemiologically linked with a multi-state outbreak of Listeriosis.” Here is what we know:

About the Revolution Farms Lettuce Listeria Outbreak

No other details about the outbreak have been announced. Attempts to reach the CDC and Revolution Farms for more information were not immediately answered.

Is this Unknown FDA Outbreak the Revolution Farms Lettuce Listeria Outbreak?

The CDC and FDA have been mum about the potential source for an unknown Listeria outbreak that has been under investigation since February of 2023.  11 people in 10 states are part of this mystery outbreak.

The CDC states that, “A specific food item has not yet been identified as the source of this outbreak. Public health officials are interviewing people in this outbreak to find out what foods they ate before getting sick. Investigators are collecting as much information as they can to solve this outbreak.”

Did the UDSA already tell us there was an outbreak?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for ready-to-eat (RTE) fresh salad products with chicken and ham that contain Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulated lettuce that has been recalled for possible Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) contamination.

FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers are aware that this product should not be consumed.

The fresh salads with chicken and ham were produced on various dates from March 10, 2023, through March 24, 2023. The following products subject to the public health alert are [view labels]:

• 5.5-oz. clear plastic packages containing “Fruit Ridge Farms White Chicken Caesar Salad” with sell by dates 03/10/23 through 04/14/23.
• 4.6-oz. clear plastic packages containing “Fruit Ridge Farms Chef Salad with Ham” with sell by dates 03/10/23 through 04/14/23.
• 5.5-oz. clear plastic packages containing “BELL’S BISTRO White Chicken Caesar Salad” with sell by dates 03/10/23 through 04/14/23.
• 4.6-oz. clear plastic packages containing “BELL’S BISTRO Chef Salad with Ham” with sell by dates 03/10/23 through 04/14/23.

The products bear establishment number “EST. 17050” or “P-17050”  inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

The problem was discovered when the firm notified FSIS that they used FDA-recalled lettuce to produce the fresh salad with chicken and ham products.

Lettuce Listeria Outbreak Recall

According to an FDA release, Revolution Farms, LLC of Caledonia, Michigan is expanding the voluntary recall announced on April 5, 2023 to include all products sold under the Revolution Farms brand. Product photos can be found here.

All date codes are included in this recall. The recalled product has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The recall was initiated when the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) received a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes in a random sample test of a package of Revolution Farms Green Sweet Crisp 5 oz. Retail with Best By date of April 2, 2023. The recall was voluntarily expanded on April 6, 2023, when the recalled product was epidemiologically linked with a multi-state outbreak of Listeriosis. The investigation is ongoing. If you think you may have become ill from something you ate, seek immediate medical attention.

The recalled products were sold to the following retailers and food service distributors in the states of MI, OH, IN, IL, KY, and WI: SpartanNash stores, Meijer stores, Bridge St. Market, Kingma’s Market, Fresh Thyme Market Grand Rapids, Fresh Thyme Market Kalamazoo, Horrocks Market Grand Rapids, Doorganics, Cherry Capital Foods, Gordon Food Service, Sysco, Van Eerden Foodservice, Vine Line Produce, Luna restaurant, Russ’ Commissary, and Pearson Foods Corporation.

In addition, Meijer has recalled some of its Fresh from Meijer premade salads that contain Revolution Farms lettuce.

All recalled products were distributed under the Revolution Farms brand name. All Revolution Farms products and date codes are included in this recall. The full list of Revolution Farms products is below:

Retail Whole Head packages are a clear, plastic clamshell with a front label. 5 oz. Retail packages are clear, plastic trays sealed with printed lidding film. 6 oz. Salad Kits are clear plastic tubs with a wrap label. Pictures to assist customers in identifying the recalled products are found at the end of this announcement.

Food Service Products

3lb. Bulk packages are clear, plastic bags packed one bag to a case. Food Service Whole Head packages are a cardboard box with a clear poly liner.

Revolution Farms, LLC is cooperating with the U. S. Food and Drug Administration and Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on this ongoing investigation.

Retailers have been instructed to remove all recalled products from store shelves. Consumers who have purchased the recalled products should discard them or return them to their place of purchase for a full refund.

According to Consumer Reports, “[t]he recall comes after the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development randomly tested a package of Revolution Farms lettuce for listeria and it came back positive. Subsequently, that product was linked to an outbreak of listeriosis, the illness caused by listeria bacteria. As a result, the company is recalling all 14 of its lettuces and salad kits sold at supermarkets, as well as bulk versions sold to supermarkets and restaurants as a food service product.”

Listeria Quick Facts:

Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected. Symptoms can occur anywhere from 3 to 70 days after exposure to the bacteria and include:

• Fever
• Nausea
• Achy neck
• Confusion
• Loss of balance
• Convulsions
• Achy muscles, and/or
• Diarrhea – In some cases, diarrhea may be so severe that the ill person requires hospitalization.

Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell their health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

The Lange Law Firm Can Help

Our mission is to help families who have been harmed by contaminated food or water.  When corporations cause Listeria food poisoning outbreaks, we use the law to hold them accountable.  The Lange Law Firm PLLC is one of the only law firms in the nation focused on representing families in food poisoning lawsuits.  This is what we do.

If you were diagnosed with Listeria in this Lettuce Listeria Outbreak and want to make a legal claim for compensation, we can help. Our Listeria lawyer can help you pursue compensation for your Listeria food poisoning.  Call us for a free no obligation legal consultation at (833) 330-3663 or send us an e-mail here.