Bagged Salads Recalled Over Links to Deadly Listeria Outbreak Across 6 States
One person is dead and 11 more have been hospitalized after falling ill with deadly listeria infections that experts warn have been linked to several brands of bagged salad.
The multi-state outbreak of the dangerous bacteria has been linked to a Dole processing facility in Springfield, Ohio, the CDC recently announced.
Anyone who's purchased bagged salads under the brand names of Dole, Fresh Selections, Simple Truth, Marketside, The Little Salad Bar, or President's Choice Organics are advised to check the manufacturing code found on the package.
If the code begins with the letter A, consumers are advised to throw the salad away.
Investigators say five of the listeria victims ate pre-packaged salad. Two of them specified that they'd eaten Dole brand salad.
The victims were located in Michigan, Massachusetts, Indiana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York, according to the CDC.
In a statement sent to ABC News, Dole officials said the voluntary recall was issued "out of an abundance of caution" and streesed that no other Dole facilities are affected.
Consumers who find the Dole products in their homes are advised to wash refrigerator shevles or drawers, cutting boards and utensils--as well as their own hands.
Anyone who develops symptoms after eating potentially contaminated food is advised to seek immediate medical attention.
While most people who are infected begin to show symptoms within days of contact with the bacteria, literiosismay develop and long as two months following exposure.
Those most at risk of listeria infection are pregnant women and their newborns, adults 65 and older, and people with compromised immune systems.
In pregnant women, the infection can lead to miscarriage or still birth as well as infection of the fetus.
According to the CDC, pregnant women typically experience fever and other non-specific symptoms, such as fatigue and aches.
Symptoms in other people can headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions, fever and muscle aches.
The CDC says around 1,600 people in the U.S. become infected with listeria each year and the bacteria accounts for around 260 deaths.