The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) advises consumers that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a recall of retail and foodservice bagged salad from River Ranch because they have the potential of being contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
Listeria monocytogenes is 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 bagged salad products were carried by three distributors in Rhode Island. There have been NO reported illnesses associated with this recall.
The retail salad products under this recall were distributed nationwide under various sizes and packaged under the brand names of River Ranch, Farm Stand, Hy-Vee, Marketside, Shurfresh, and The Farmer's Market.
Foodservice salad products under this recall were distributed nationwide under various sizes and packaged under the brand names of River Ranch, Cross Valley, Fresh n Easy, Promark, and Sysco.
The recalled retail and foodservice salad bags have either "Best By" code dates between 12MAY2012 – 22MAY2012 or Julian dates between 116 – 125. The code date is typically located in the upper right hand corner of the bags.
Consumers who have purchased this product should not consume it and are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions can contact River Ranch at their 24-hour customer service center at 1-800-762-7708.