Food Company Recalls Arugula Salad After Salmonella Discovery: FDA

Published: 6/11/2024, 11:55:13 AM EDT

Food Company Recalls Arugula Salad After Salmonella Discovery: FDA — A pile of fresh arugula leaves in a stock photo. (Zoeytoja/Shutterstock)

A food company is recalling a batch of its 4-ounce packs of baby arugula, as it found the salad greens had the potential to be contaminated with salmonella.

Lake Worth, Florida-based Green Life Farms recalled all of the packages from its lot #LW15124 of baby arugula on June 7 after routine testing revealed the presence of salmonella in a single harvest, according to a company statement posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Also known as rocket and eruca, arugula is a brassica known for its fresh, tart flavor. According to the company's website, it grows its salad varieties using hydroponics, or nutrient-enriched water, instead of soil—which the company says reduces the risk of contamination.

The clear plastic packages are 4-ounce packs, and had been released for sale at Publix supermarkets from May 31. They have a sell-by date of June 15. Only lot number LW15124 was affected, the company said. The lot number can be found stamped on the top of the packages.

No illnesses have been reported to date, the company reported.

Symptoms of salmonella may include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Illness usually occurs within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food, and usually lasts four to seven days. Children under five, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe infections. In rare cases, a salmonella infection can result in the bacteria entering the bloodstream and causing more severe illnesses, such as heart inflammation or arthritis.

Surfaces and containers that may have come into contact with produce that may have been contaminated with salmonella should be cleaned and sanitized to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. Consumers who purchased produce from the affected batch of baby arugula are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Cream Cheese Recall

Earlier this month, Schreiber Foods Inc. of Green Bay, Wisconsin, recalled more than 800,000 cream cheese products due to possible salmonella contamination, the FDA said in an enforcement report.

The affected cream cheese was distributed and sold by several food retailers, including major outlets such as Hy-Vee, Aldi, and Piggly Wiggly.

CDC Investigation

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an update on June 5 on the ongoing investigation into a salmonella infection that may have come from cucumbers distributed in 25 states and the country’s capital. The infection has resulted in 54 hospitalizations, though no deaths have been reported.

The cucumbers in question have been recalled, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “This product should no longer be available for sale to consumers in stores,” the FDA wrote in the outbreak notification.

Recalled Fresh Start cucumbers in an image released June 5, 2024. (FDA) — Recalled Fresh Start cucumbers in an image released June 5, 2024. FDA

The states with the highest number of cases were Pennsylvania, New York, Florida, and Virginia, according to a map posted by the agency.

The dark green cucumbers were shipped to 14 states between May 17 and May 21.

Fresh Start Produce Sales, a Florida-based sales and shipping company, initiated the recall on May 31 after it was informed by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture that a cucumber sample tested positive for salmonella.

The affected cucumbers should now be past their shelf life, according to the FDA.

Marina Zhang contributed to this report.