New Salmonella Recalls: Spinach, Vermicelli, Pot Sticker Salads

Salmonella Contamination With Three Types of Salads Amid growing concerns about the ever-deepening issue of food borne illness, new recall information has surfaced about potential Salmonella contamination with fresh, bagged spinach and two types of salads.

Kleen-Pac Bagged, Fresh Spinach
WKBT reported that Kleen-Pak fresh, bagged spinach was distributed through a Milwaukee-based food processor and tested positive for the dangerous, sometimes fatal, Salmonella pathogen, and is being removed from stores. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) confirmed that the spinach tested positive for Salmonella in routine food safety tests and is advising consumers to either discard or return the recalled spinach to the store of purchase, said WKBT. The recall involves ten-ounce bags of Kleen-Pak brand, curly-leaf fresh spinach containing “use by dates” of April 29, April 30, and May 1 (4/29, 4/30 and 5/1). Consumers with questions are advised to contact Kleen-Pac/Jerry Kowaleski at 1-414-481-4878, WKBT added. The recalled spinach was distributed to groceries in Wisconsin and was also distributed in Illinois.  Because the recall is now multi-state, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has become involved said WKBT.

WKBT reported that this contamination is not connected to the ongoing investigations into Salmonella contamination of peanut butter products, pistachios, or alfalfa sprouts.

Pasta & Co Chinese Vermicelli Salad and Pot Sticker Salad
The FDA announced that Pasta & Co has issued recalls for its Chinese Vermicelli and Pot Sticker salads due to a possible health risk over a potential contamination with Salmonella. This recall is associated with the current, ongoing recall and contamination related to Union International Food Company (UIFC). The recalled Pasta & Co products were manufactured using chili oil recalled by UIFC because of possible Salmonella contamination.

Salad Retailers

The salads were sold through Pasta & Co retail stores at the following locations in Greater Seattle, Washington: University Village, Queen Anne, and Bellevue. The recalled salads are sold through the café display case counter and contain a food card identifying the product; there are no specific coding or UPC codes for the products, which include both the Chinese Vermicelli Salad and the Pot Sticker Salad.  Both recalled salads were served from a display case with a display bowl; the salads are sold with the assistance of store staff up to and including April 24, 2009. Consumers may return the recalled products for a full refund by returning them to one of Pasta & Co’s three retail stores. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-206-322-1644 x14, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (PDT).

Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain within 12 to 72 hours of contamination. Generally, the illness lasts a week, but, in some, hospitalization is required because the infection may have spread to the blood stream and other body sites, producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis, and arthritis. Without treatment, severe cases of Salmonellosis can result in death. Unfortunately, some Salmonella bacteria are resistant to antibiotics.

Need Legal Help Regarding Sickness From Salmonella Salads?

The personal injury attorneys at Parker Waichman LLP offer free, no-obligation case evaluations. For more information, fill out our online contact form or call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529).