FOUR DOLE BAGGED SALAD RECALLS IN 6 MONTHS

This has not been a good six months for Dole Food Co: four bagged salad recalls! It hasn't been good for people who eat bagged salads either. That is, if they want to stay healthy.

In April, 2012, Dole issued a recall on 756 cases of bagged salad, because of possible contamination with Salmonella bacteria. The recall included bagged Seven Lettuces salads distributed in 15 states.

Soon after, in July, it had a bagged romaine lettuce recall. Some 2,600 cases of bagged Hearts of Romaine that had been distributed to several states had to be recalled because of possible Listeria contamination.

And then in August, Dole Italian Blend bagged salads had to be being recalled because testing turned up Listeria bacteria again. Some 1,039 cases of bagged salad had to be recalled.

I may have missed some. But, look, that's enough bacterial contamination in six months even for a big company with huge production. So much for safety! And by the way, there have been other Dole product recalls as well recently, such as for mangoes, because of Salmonella.

Now there is a fourth Dole bagged salad recall: it is recalling some of its bagged salads because of Listeria being found. This time it's Dole American Blend salad in 12 oz. bags, coded A275208A or B, with Use-by date of October 17 and UPC 7143000933.

Maybe Dole should take a look at its plants and processes. And maybe - as my book, The Safe Food Handbook argues, bagged fresh produce is not all that safe after all. Even triple washing doesn't always work. Somtimes it may even add contaminants. But how many of us make salads totally from scratch any more? Perhaps it is time we went back to "vintage salads." (You may also want to glance at my Feb. 2011 post on: "What's Really in Bagged Salads.")

To your good health,
TSF

BAGGED SALADS SOLD AT WALMART AND KROGER ARE RECALLED

Yes, we have yet another recall of bagged fresh salads because of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.

This time the recalling company is Dole Fresh Vegetables. The products were sold at Kroger and Walmart stores in Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Here are the ones recalled at the present time (remember, these types of recalls often expand):
Kroger Fresh Selections Greener Supreme with Use-by date of June 19, Kroger Fresh Selections Leafy Romaine with Use-by date of June 19, and Wal Mart Marketside Leafy Romaine with Use-by date of June19.

As usual, whenever Listeria monocytogenes is the food contaminant, pregnant women, and anyone with a weak immune system take special note. Avoid these salads. In fact, for good measure, avoid all bagged salads, at least for a while, until we see whether more are recalled.

To your good health,
TSF

DOLE LETTUCE RECALL

We have another case of Salmonella bacteria contaminating the U.S. food supply. The previous one (that was caught, that is - many aren't) involved tuna fish. Now lettuce is taking a turn - which is much more common. Clearly, Salmonella season (the summer months) is beginning.

Dole Fresh Vegetables has recalled 756 cases of DOLE® Seven Lettuces salad with Use-by Date of April 11, 2012, UPC code 71430 01057 and Product Codes 0577N089112A and 0577N089112B. The salads were distributed in fifteen U.S. states (Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin).

As you can see from the photo, this is one of those increasingly popular "thoroughly washed" products. Sure - of course it has been washed. But, washing, even with added chemicals is not 100% effective (read The Safe Food Handbook to find out why).

Does rewashing help? Maybe sometimes. The research does not give a clear answer. But yes, raw salads quite often carry bacteria. If you eat them, just cross your fingers and hope there aren't enough really vicious bacteria in it to make you sick. (Confession: I love arugula).

To your good health,

TSF