PSA Lettuce Listeria Outbreak

arteduc8

Just saw this on the news tonight. There is a Listeria Outbreak on lettuce from Dole sold under a few names: Dole, Fresh Selections, Simple Truth, Marketside, The Little Salad Bar and President's Choice.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/01/22/deadly-listeria-outbreak-puts-12-people-hospital/79175942/

sorarose

Ugh, I saw this too. We don't usually purchase these brands, but who knows when I eat out (and salad on the regular). However, there are only 12 known cases since July, and while scary, I still will enjoy my salad!

catherinekate

I heard about this on the radio on my commute this morning--thanks for posting in case anyone was unaware. As @sorarose mentioned, I know it's a fairly small outbreak but it's good to be reminded that washing lettuce (even the pre-washed stuff) is a good precaution to take. Hopefully no one here is was or will be affected.

huskypuppy14

I was coming here to post this. This is why I don't buy those packaged salads anymore.

Boonhilde

Oh man!

mmmmkay

They have shown that washing pre washed lettuce is actually more likely to ADD contaminants than remove them. Not sure you ca really " rinse away" listeria anyway.

catherinekate

mmmmkay said:

They have shown that washing pre washed lettuce is actually more likely to ADD contaminants than remove them. Not sure you ca really " rinse away" listeria anyway.

Yikes, really? It makes sense to me that you could reduce chance of contamination by thorough washing, but I'm not a scientist. Why would washing add contaminants?

mmmmkay

catherinekate said:

mmmmkay said:

They have shown that washing pre washed lettuce is actually more likely to ADD contaminants than remove them. Not sure you ca really " rinse away" listeria anyway.

Yikes, really? It makes sense to me that you could reduce chance of contamination by thorough washing, but I'm not a scientist. Why would washing add contaminants?

just that there are more contaminants in your kitchen and the sink then likely on the veggies.

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/pubsforms/Guidelines/Documents/fdb%20eru%20Gde%20Recomm%20Wash%20FC%20Consumer.pdf

alw12290

Of course that is the same brand that I eat with the letter A. Needless to say a little paranoid and will be checking with my midwife Monday.

JuneBaby1984

Yikes so scary, I buy those all the time, thinking I'm being healthy eating my greens. I ate the pc one this morning apparently in a quiche my sister made, but it was thoroughly cooked.  Still going to ask the doctor tomorrow. 

Lyette1206

I ate one the other day, and called my midwife. Basically I need to watch myself for the next two months, and if at any point I develop a fever or stiff neck (or other flu like symptoms), I'll need to go get tested. She said that you're at a lower risk level in the second tri, but it's still pretty scary.

TheHauntedHauswife

I also ate atleast 2 bags of the 'contiminated' salads. I will just be keeping tabs on myself the best i can. Its tough cause I have Fibromyalgia and have a lot of things that could almost be flu like symptoms on a regular basis. But definitely no fever or anything. Will continue to monitor but hoping all is okay.

am0987

I also consumed 2 bags of these salads between November and December. Saw the news late last Friday night and went straight to urgent care to have a blood test done as I had 1 instance of loose stools and major headaches in early January. Still waiting for the results. My OB thinks I'm fine but it's my understanding that even if I have no symptoms, the baby can still be affected.

arteduc8

I buy one of those brands too, but the product code was different. Sure does make you think twice about uncooked greens though! Hoping that those of you who may have been exposed are in the clear! 

WaitingMay14

No sabra original hummus check
no lettuce check 

Yikes !!!! 

arteduc8

@WaitingMay14 Thanks for the heads up on hummus! I hadn't heard about that yet. Looking into it, apparently some Blue Bell ice cream has also been recalled due to Listeria.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/listeria-get-hummus/

Lyette1206

The hummus is old - it's a recall from last year. I checked and checked, I can't find anything recent. 

arteduc8

@Lyette1206 You're right. I'm normally so good about checking dates on articles but missed it on my last link. Thanks for clearing that up! 

WaitingMay14

Thanks for the update. Facebook at times can ruin lives lol. 

Sabra humus is SAFE!!!!  

Lyette1206

@arteduc8 a coworker and I were freaking out about it at work last week. I love hummus, and that's one of my favourite brands!! I was so relieved, especially since I know I ate at least one listeria salad

am0987

In December I ate 2 of the salads that were recalled from that facility, and early January I had a couple days of diahrrea and a never ending headache.

Naturally, in my irrational state, the minute I heard of the recall I had my blood tested for listeria. Everything came back normal, thank God! Just wanted to put it out there that is IS possible to eat a product from the contaminated facility and NOT contract listeria.
Prob sounds like common sense but I was convinced that I was going to be on the news for contracting it. Lol.