Salad Recall Issued for Fresh Express Kit Caesar Supreme

Fresh Express has issued a voluntary recall of its Caesar salad kit due to fears over E. coli contamination.

According to a notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the salad recall was issued after an “isolated incident” in which a single 10.5-ounce package of Fresh Express Kit Caesar Supreme tested positive for the bacteria.

So far, no illnesses have been reported in connection with the salad recall, and the Fresh Express Consumer Response Center has received no complaints from consumers, the FDA said.

The Fresh Express salad recall affects only expired Caesar Supreme kits that have a use-by date of Nov. 8, 2020, and product code S296, FOX13 reported.

The FDA said the salad recall was being executed as a precautionary measure in case any of the packages still happened to be on store shelves or in consumers’ refrigerators.

Most of the product affected by the salad recall was primarily in the western and southwestern United States, according to the FDA; it’s possible the salad kit was distributed in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Consumers who discover they still have the recalled salad kit in their home should throw it away and not consume it, Produce Blue Book advises.

The FDA says consumers who have questions or wish to receive a refund should call the Fresh Express Consumer Response Center at (800) 242-5472 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern.

Consumers are also able to get a refund by going to the store where the recalled salad kit was purchased.

The bacteria at issue in the salad recall, E. coli STEC 026, can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps and vomiting, the FDA warns. While most people who become ill from E. coli recover in about a week, some can face illnesses that last longer or are more severe.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most people begin to feel sick three to four days after consuming something containing the E. coli bacteria; however, the illness can begin from one to 10 days after.

The CDC advises consumers who suspect they have an E. coli infection to contact their physician if their diarrhea lasts longer than three days or is accompanied by a fever that is higher than 102 degrees; blood in their stool; or if they are vomiting so much they are unable to keep liquids down and are passing little urine.

The Fresh Express salad recall isn’t the only one to be issued recently over E. coli contamination concerns.

Tanimura & Antle Inc. has recalled heads of romaine lettuce nationwide due to the possibility of contamination.

That recall, issued Nov. 6, involves single-head Tanimura & Antle-branded packages of the lettuce. 

The affected packages bear a “packed on” date of Oct. 15 or 16. They also are marked with UPC number 0-27918-20314-9.

The FDA said no illnesses had been reported in connection with the recalled romaine lettuce.

A random sample tested during a routine Michigan Department of Agriculture check was found to possibly be contaminated with E. coli.

The scope of that recall was a bit larger than this Fresh Express salad recall, though.

The romaine recall affected up to 3,396 cartons of the lettuce, the company determined, which were distributed in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Puerto Rico.

Have you purchased one of the recalled packages of Fresh Express Kit Caesar Supreme? Tell us about your experience in the comments section below.

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