The Centers for Disease Control revealed that a listeria outbreak has occurred in six states resulting in the death of a person in Michigan. A Dole facility in Ohio that produces packaged salads is linked by the CDC to the spread of the disease.
The health agency reported that there are already 12 people in six states that have been hospitalized since the start of the outbreak in July. Apparently, these people were infected with listeria after consuming salads packaged with several Dole brand names including President's Choice, Simple Truth, Fresh Selections, The Little Salad Bar, Marketside and Simple Truth.
The outbreak was linked by the CDC to the said salad packages after listeria was detected by Ohio agriculture officials in one bag sold at a retail outlet. These officials revealed that the bacterial strain is highly related to the listeria that makes people sick.
Dole has started withdrawing the said packages from supermarket shelves in Quebec, New Brunswick, Ontario and in 20 additional states to avert further listeriosis outbreak.
Paul Simon, Senior Communication Specialist of Schnuck Markets Inc. said that their stores have already pulled the affected products. "If a customer purchased any of the affected products from Schnucks, they may return any unused portion for a refund," he said.
The CDC also revealed that Dole had stopped producing these packages at its plant in Springfield, Ohio. For outlets who have not yet recalled these products from their shelves, the CDC recommends shoppers to look for the "A" mark on the package. If they see this mark, it means that package is contaminated with listeria.
Listeria can cause muscle aches and fever. If it causes gastrointestinal symptoms and the condition is not corrected, it could lead to death. Listeriosis can also cause death in newborn babies, stillbirth, miscarriage and premature labor.
Those who are at the highest risk of contracting listeriosis are pregnant women, infants and young children, those with compromised immune systems and the elderly.
