Costco Salad Recall Demonstrates Worrying Trend

This could be potentially dangerous for those with allergies.

Almonds and soy may be present in the packaged salad.

Further they advised customers who are allergic to soy or almonds to return their salads for a refund.

These include California, Nevada, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida and Georgia.

Customers of Costco can also get in touch with the business by calling 800-774-2678, which is available Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Worries about undeclared allergens, frequently brought about by mislabeling, prompt organizations to issue recalls of food items.

Meanwhile, “Tuscan Salad Bowls” sold at Heinen’s retail locations in Ohio and Illinois might contain pecans, which was the concern with those products.

However mislabeling can unintentionally cause the possibly lethal condition of anaphylaxis in those with related allergies.

An allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis, can cause hives, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, a raised pulse, a closing of the throat, and even cardiac arrest. You should call 911 immediately if you think you are experiencing any of these symptoms after consuming this salad.

The Connecticut-based supermarket chain Stew Leonard’s issued a recall after the incident.

“Our condolences go out to the family affected by this incident.”

This was one out of “an abundance of caution” as per a press release.

She went on to say: “Our chief safety officer here at Stew Leonard’s was never notified.”

“We have a very rigorous process that we use as far as labeling. We take labels very seriously, especially peanuts.”

For any questions regarding this salad recall, you can contact Costco at 800-774-2678, Monday through Friday from 6am to 6pm Pacific Time. You can also get hold of Costco on the weekend between 8am and 5pm.

Along with Trader Joe’s, Costco has pulled certain products because of a listeria outbreak, especially for food manufacturer, Rizo Lopez Foods Inc. which provides ready meals and taco kits to the stores.

Trader Joe’s recalled similar products including Elote Chopped Salad Kits, Enchiladas Verde, Southwest Salads, and Cilantro Salad Dressing. Other retailers such as Albertsons have also been affected.

These recalls are the latest in a series of listeria cases with the supplier, dating back to 2014, according to the FDA. Rizo Lopez most recently has carried out a voluntary recall with the FDA for many of its products, with its related retailers following shortly after.

Listeria is a rare type of bacteria that can infect any food, but most commonly affects chilled and ready meals such as cured meats, pre-cut salads and sandwiches, and products that use unpasteurized milk.

The CDC’s investigations of listeria outbreaks in 2017 and 2021 could not trace the infections back to any specific brands. After new cases of listeriosis came to light in December, the same strain of bacteria was found in a Rizo Lopez Foods cheese sample.

Symptoms include a high temperature, aches and pains, chills, feeling sick or diarrhea. Those most vulnerable to serious complications with listeriosis are the pregnant, newborn babies, and people with conditions or going through treatments that weaken the immune system.

Symptoms can start with muscle aches and fatigue. More serious cases can cause fever, flu-like symptoms, headaches, a stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures. Seek immediate medical attention if you are pregnant as listeriosis can have harmful implication to yourself and your baby.

On top of immediately throwing the product away without consuming it, you can ask the retailer such as Costco for a full refund on recalled products. It is also important to clean any surfaces where the product has touched such as tables, countertops, or containers.

Food recalls have been on the rise in the country, with the number of recalls being at their highest since the pandemic. Nearly half of the food recalls were due to undeclared allergens. California retailers sold 44% of last year’s recalled products, a close second to New York.

Stay up to date regarding food recalls from retailers you use, especially for products that you regularly buy. Check the lot codes for foods that have been recalled. Be wary of ready-to-eat meals, particularly unheated deli meats. If any of your products are recalled, throw them away immediately.