Listeria outbreak in Dole bagged salads

[Shirley U Geste]

Yet another bagged salad problem.

[val2525]

The affected salads have "best if used by" dates from Nov. 30 through Jan. 9. The lettuces are sold under many brand names besides Dole: Ahold, HEB, Kroger, Lidl, Little Salad Bar, Marketside, Naturally Better, Nature’s Promise, President’s Choice, Simply Nature.


Seriously CDC? They're recalling a product that expired a month ago and that most people have already used or tossed? Produce isn't like canned goods where you might hang on to it a few months after the expiration date.

I wonder if the recall was issued earlier but the media is just now picking up on it? There was a shortage of bagged salad at HEB right after Christmas and up until almost the end of January. An "unadvertised" recall would account for it.

[val2525]

Yep, the news media is late to the story. Voluntary recall was posted at CDC website Jan 7.


www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/dole-fresh-vegetables-inc-announces-voluntary-recall-certain-salads-processed-its-springfield-oh-and

[somany]

Well, I guess it's a good thing I never ate the bagged salad I bought a couple of times last month haha. I am really struggling since my surgery to eat healthy. To eat at all, really. Not hungry and have an aversion to a lot of tastes. I used to love salad but no desire to have them now, mainly because the things I would add to them don't taste the same. That's why I thought I would try the bagged salad, without all the extras, but it never called even though I bought it twice in the last month or so.

[val2525]

somany, have you tried eating other veggies instead? Most veggies are absolutely yummy when they're roasted (oven or air fryer) or even grilled if you have a BBQ. They also don't need a whole lot of added stuff when they're roasted or grilled, other than oil, pepper and a little salt. I used flavor infused olive oils - rosemary, garlic, mixed herbs, etc. Just as good for you as salad. Plus, the fresh veggies will keep in the fridge a lot longer than bagged salad mix

[somany]

I do like roasted vegetables; I just don't like fixing them! I know they aren't hard, but I am seriously not a cook, with little interest in doing anything in the kitchen. I think if I had someone to cook for besides me, I would do better. Since it's just me and I'm not all that interested in food, it's really hard to make myself do it. There are always things I want to do more!

[val2525]

Do you have an air fryer? Buy the pre-sliced/chopped veggies and put them in the air fryer. Air fryer takes anywhere from 15-25 minutes to cook the veggies, depending on how much you have in the basket and how done you like your veggies. I often make a big batch at once, then use it during the week as side dish to meat, in omelettes for breakfast, add it to alfredo or marinara sauce, etc. I usually slice up a zuchinni, a yellow squash, a green bell pepper, a red bell pepper, an onion, and 1/2 to a whole small package of sliced mushrooms. It's pretty cheap to buy one of all of those veggies and it makes 3-4 cups cooked, easily. I like fresh green beans roasted in the oven or air fryer too. What's great is you can also just cook as much as you need for one meal with an air fryer. No cooking skills needed. Buy the pre-sliced/chopped veggies if you like, toss in flavored olive oil of your choice (that way you don't have to worry about seasonng), add pepper & salt to taste, and roast. You can do the same with any already prepared bagged veggie - green beans, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli (personally I prefer to steam broccoli in the microwave over roasting), asparagus, etc. Carrots, not so much IMO. It's so easy even Kritter could do it

For all you non-cookers out there, the flavored oils are awesome and remove the need to figure out what herbs/seasoning to add. They come in all kinds of oils (olive is the most common), and all sorts of flavors. You can generally get the basic garlic infused at the local grocery store, but you may have to order online for the mixed herb flavors. Mantova makes some good herb blended olive oils, and Saragota Olive Oil Co has good blended olive oils and the best selection of anywhere for flavored vinegars (another cooking lesson for another thread kiddos).

[kritter]

It's so easy Kritter could do it

It probably is that easy but Kritter doesn't do it either.  I am not that excited about vegetables to go to that much trouble (for me) so you can find me in the frozen food aisle buying vegetables that I can throw in the microwave and be done with it in 8 minutes max.