FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 18, 2012 - River Ranch Fresh Foods,
LLC of Salinas, CA is initiating a voluntary recall of retail and foodservice
bagged salads, because they have the potential of being contaminated with
Listeria monocytogenes following routine random retail salad finished product
tests conducted in the marketplace by the Food & Drug Administration.
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.
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.
See
attached list for the specific salad products, size, package type, UPC codes and
states of distribution.
No other products, brands or code dates aside
from those listed below are affected by this recall.
There have been
NO reported illnesses associated with this recall. We are
working closely with the Food & Drug Administration and California
Department of Public Health.
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.