Ham Salad Recalled Over Breadcrumb Contamination Concerns

Concerns about Listeria monocytogenes contamination led Newly Weds Foods to recall breadcrumb products contained in Reser’s Fine Foods Ham Salad and Molly’s Kitchen Ham Salad.

Juliette Fairley

Published: 7/28/2025, 1:45:40 PM EDT

Ham Salad Recalled Over Breadcrumb Contamination Concerns — Photo of one of the recalled products (Photo courtesy of FSIS)

A ready-to-eat ham salad product has been recalled due to concerns that bread within it may be contaminated with bacterium.

Concerns about Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) contamination led Newly Weds Foods to recall breadcrumb products contained in Reser’s Fine Foods Ham Salad and Molly’s Kitchen Ham Salad.

Neither Newly Weds Foods nor Reser’s Fine Foods responded to requests for comment.

“The problem was discovered when Reser’s Fine Foods, Inc., a Topeka, Kan., establishment determined that they used FDA-regulated breadcrumb products subject to an FDA recall because the breadcrumbs may be contaminated with Lm,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said in a July 27 public health alert.

Reser’s Fine Foods Ham Salad is packaged in 12-oz. plastic tubs and has a sales expiration date of Sept. 1 while Molly’s Kitchen Ham Salad is packaged in 5-pound clear plastic tubs with a sales expiration date of Aug. 31 printed on it.

The FSIS further stated that it was issuing the public health alert out of concern that some product may be in consumers’ or retailers’ refrigerators or freezers.

“Consumers should check back frequently because additional products may be added,” the FSIS stated. “FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers are aware that these products, which bear the USDA mark of inspection, should not be consumed.”

The USDA mark of inspection is a symbol of clearance that the meat, poultry, or egg product has been inspected and is safe, wholesome, and properly labeled.

But in this case, FSIS urged consumers and retailers who have purchased the products to throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.

Lm is a disease-causing bacterium that can be found in many places, including soil, water, sewage, rotting vegetation, and animals, according to the FDA website.

Last week, Reser’s Fine Foods recalled its tuna salad croissants, sandwiches, and trays over the same concerns that breadcrumbs contained Lm. The FDA said the tuna salad items were sold between July 16 and July 19 at Albertsons, Randalls, and Tom Thumb grocery stores in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.

“This action follows a recall initiated by Reser’s Fine Food[s] due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes in breadcrumbs used as an ingredient in their tuna salad,” the FDA said in its July 21 advisory.

The recalled items are RM Duo Tuna Salad W/Cracker, RM Salad Tuna Premium, RM Snacker Tray Tuna Salad, RM Sandwich Tuna Salad Croissant SS Cold, RM Tuna Salad Over Bed of Lettuce SS, Salad Tuna Premium, Tray Croissant Mini Salad 16 inch, Tray Croissant Mini Salad 18 inch, Tray Salad Sandwich 12 inch, and Tray Salad Sandwich 16 inch.

"Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms," the FSIS said in its alert. "In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections can occur in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics."