Experts warn that the deadly listeria outbreak, which has killed one person in the U.S and left another 11 hospitalized, has been linked
to several brands of bagged salad. As a result Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc., is temporarily suspending operations at its Springfield, Ohio production facility, and is voluntarily withdrawing from the market all Dole-branded and private label packaged salads processed at that location
The multi-state outbreak of the dangerous bacteria has been linked to the Dole processing facility in Springfield, Ohio, the CDC recently announced.
Anyone who's purchased bagged salads under the brand names of Dole, Fresh Selections, Simple Truth, Marketside, The Little Salad Bar, or President's Choice Organics are advised to check the manufacturing code found on the package.
If the code begins with the letter A, consumers are advised to throw the salad away.
Investigators say five of the listeria victims ate pre-packaged salad. Two of them specified that they'd eaten Dole brand salad.
The victims were located in Michigan, Massachusetts, Indiana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York, according to the CDC.
In a statement sent to ABC News, Dole officials said the voluntary recall was issued "out of an abundance of caution" and stressed that no other Dole facilities are affected.
While most people who are infected begin to show symptoms within days of contact with the bacteria, literiosismay develop and long as two months following exposure.
Those most at risk of listeria infection are pregnant women and their newborns, adults 65 and older, and people with compromised immune systems.
The CDC says around 1,600 people in the U.S. become infected with listeria each year and the bacteria accounts for around 260 deaths.
Sources: businesswire.com, news.yahoo.com
