FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Fresh Chicken and Ham Salads Containing Lettuce Recalled by FDA for Possible Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination

WASHINGTON, April 7, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for ready-to-eat (RTE) fresh salad products with chicken and ham that contain Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulated lettuce that has been recalled for possibly Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) pollution.

FSIS is issuing this public health warning to ensure that consumers are aware that this product should not be consumed.

The fresh chicken and ham salads were produced on various dates from March 10, 2023 through March 24, 2023. The following products covered by the public health alert are [view labels]:

• 5.5 oz. clear plastic containers containing “Fruit Ridge Farms White Chicken Caesar Salad” with sell-by dates of 03/10/23 through 04/14/23.
• 4.6 oz. clear plastic containers containing “Fruit Ridge Farms Chef Salad with Ham” with sell-by dates of 03/10/23 through 04/14/23.
• 5.5 oz. clear plastic packages containing “BELL’S BISTRO White Chicken Caesar Salad” with sell-by dates 03/10/23 to 04/14/23.
• 4.6 oz. clear plastic packages containing “BELL’S BISTRO Chef Salad with Ham” with sell-by dates 03/10/23 to 04/14/23.

The products bear the establishment number “EST. 17050” or “P-17050” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to stores in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

The problem was discovered when the company notified FSIS that it was using FDA-recalled lettuce to produce the fresh salad with chicken and ham products.

There have been no confirmed reports of side effects due to consumption of these products. Anyone who is concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.

Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that mainly affects older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. It is less common for people outside these risk groups to be affected.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions that are sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads outside the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth or life-threatening infection in the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections can occur in older adults and people with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. People in the higher risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months of eating contaminated food should seek medical attention and tell the health care provider that they are eating the contaminated food.

FSIS is concerned that some products may be in consumers’ refrigerators. Consumers who have purchased these products are advised not to consume them. These products must be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Media and consumers with questions regarding the public health alert may contact Alicia Richards, Food Safety & Quality Manager at 616-399-7084 Ext. 416 or arichards@russrestaurants.com.

Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or live chat via Ask the USDA from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Consumers can also browse food safety notices at Ask the USDA or send a question via e-mail to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers who need to report a problem with a meat, poultry or egg product, the Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.