PRODUCT RECALLS JANUARY 2016

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 (see the product list at http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/) Products subject to the voluntary withdrawal are identified with a product code beginning with the letter “A” in the upper right-hand corner of the package (see example below), and are sold in the following states and Canadian provinces noted below. This suspension and withdrawal is being performed voluntarily by Dole out of an abundance of caution, in collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control. See more about this withdrawal at www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/

No additional Dole facilities are affected. Other Dole products, including fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and packaged salads from Dole’s other processing facilities (with product codes beginning with the letters “B” or “N”), are not part of this voluntary withdrawal.

Retailers and consumers who have any remaining product with an “A” code should not consume it, and are urged to discard it. Retailer and consumer questions about the voluntary withdrawal should be directed to the Dole Food Company Consumer Response Center at 800-356-3111) (hours are 8:00am-8:00pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday). Media inquiries should be directed to Bil Goldfield at 818-874-4647.

Retailers which carry Dole products produced in its Springfield, OH plant (with the product code beginning with the letter “A” in the upper right-hand corner of the package) should check their store shelves and warehouse inventories to confirm that no withdrawn product is available for purchase by consumers. Dole Fresh Vegetables’ customer service representatives have been contacting retailers, and are in the process of confirming that the withdrawn product has been removed from the supply chain.

Dole Fresh Vegetables is coordinating closely with regulatory officials.

List of states included in the voluntary withdrawal:

• Alabama
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Georgia
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Michigan
• Massachusetts
• Maryland
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Mississippi
• North Carolina
• New Jersey
• New York
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• Wisconsin

List of provinces included in the voluntary withdrawal:

• Ontario
• New Brunswick
• Quebec

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* We believe that none of the products being recalled were processed or offered through the national office.

For more info on this recall, plus product photos, go to this FDA web page.

Heritage International (USA) Inc. of Compton, CA is voluntarily recalling one lot of Trader Joe’s Raw Cashew Pieces with the following code “BEST BEFORE 07.17.2016TF4” because of potential contamination with Salmonella. Salmonella is an organism that 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. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The recall only affects one specific lot of Trader Joe’s Raw Cashew Pieces. The product comes in a 16 ounce, clear, non-resealable plastic package (with a barcode number of 00505154) and with the following lot code, “BEST BEFORE 07.17.2016TF4.” The “BEST BEFORE” information can be found on the backside of the package above the barcode.

The product was distributed only to Trader Joe’s stores in Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C. and Wisconsin.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The voluntary recall was initiated by Heritage International (USA) Inc., after routine testing by an FDA contract laboratory revealed the presence of Salmonella in one lot of Raw Cashew Pieces. Other lots tested by the FDA contract laboratory and further testing of this lot by Trader Joe’s resulted in no additional findings of contamination.

Customers who have purchased the specified lot code (BEST BEFORE 07.17.2016TF4) of Raw Cashew Pieces are urged not to eat the product, and to dispose of it or return it to any Trader Joe’s for a full refund. Customers may call Trader Joe’s Customer Relations at (626) 599-3817 6:00AM-6:00PM PST, Monday – Friday, with any questions.

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* We believe that none of the products being recalled were processed or offered through the national office.

For more info including product photo, click on this FDA web page.

Fresh Express Incorporated is voluntarily issuing a precautionary recall of 350 cases of 12 oz. Fresh Express Baby Spinach with a Product Code of G010A17A and Use-By Date of January 24 due to a possible exposure to a tree nut allergen (almond). Fresh Express representatives are already coordinating with stores to remove the recalled product from retail stores where distributed, primarily in Eastern and Southeastern states. No other Fresh Express products are included in this recall.

No illnesses are reported.

The recall was necessitated when a portion of a single almond was inadvertently introduced into the production supply. In order to safeguard the health and wellbeing of consumers, Fresh Express is conducting a precautionary recall of product that could have come into contact with the almond during this isolated incident. In some individuals the consumption of an undisclosed allergen, such as tree nuts, could be life-threatening.

Fresh Express takes all matters of food safety very seriously, including the issue of allergens. Company procedures and programs stringently follow all mandated regulations and focus on preventive measures designed to minimize potential risks. Fresh Express is coordinating closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is conducting a full investigation into this isolated event.

Consumers in possession of the recalled product should discard it. A refund is available where purchased or by contacting the Fresh Express Consumer Response Center toll-free at (800) 242-5472 during the hours of 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time.

Recalled Product Details

• Fresh Express Baby Spinach – 12 oz. bag
• Product Code of G010A17A and Use-By Date of January 24 located in the upper right hand corner on the front of the bag
• UPC Code of 0 71279 27111 8 located on the reverse side of the bag by the bar code

Recalled Product Distribution
Fresh Express Precautionary Recall, Baby Spinach – 1/15/16
(No other Fresh Express Salads are included in this recall)

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The trio of covered cranberries product was distributed nationwide through retail stores and mail order. The specific product comes in a 5oz. gable-top box with color graphics and can be identified by a lot # of 5230-1 on the inside bag.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recall was initiated after it was discovered that yogurt covered almonds were distributed in packaging that did not list almonds in the ingredients. Subsequent investigation indicates it was an isolated incidence caused by a temporary breakdown in the packaging processes.

Consumers who have purchased this product or received it as a gift are urged to contact the company at 1-888-811-2379 Mon-Fri, 9:00 – 5:00, EST for return instructions and full refund.

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* We believe that none of the products being recalled were processed or offered through the Feeding America national office.

For more information and product photos, go to this FDA web page.