Fresh Express® Salad Lawsuit | Fresh Express Salad Lawyer, Attorney

In recent years, Fresh Express has issued multiple recalls for bagged salads due to outbreaks of Listeria, E. coli and Cyclospora parasite infections.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Fresh Express salad induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with E. coli, Listeria or a Cyclospora parasite infection, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Food Poisoning Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

UPDATE: Fresh Express® and Publix® Salad Kits Recalled for Listeria

In April 2023, Fresh Express Inc. recalled 3 varieties of Fresh Express® and Publix® salad kits in 5 states due to a risk of Listeria contamination. No illnesses were reported, but health officials in Georgia reported that a product with a Use-By Date of March 31, 2023 tested positive for Listeria.

All of the recalled salad kits are now past their expiration date. The recalled salad kits are marked with Product Code GO75 and Use-By Dates of March 31 or April 2, 2023 on the front of the bag. They were sold in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

The recalled salad kits include:

Fresh Express® Caesar Chopped Kit (9.4-oz) in the states of FL, GA, NC, SC
Fresh Express® Chopped Kit Chipotle Cheddar (11.3-oz.) in the states of FL, GA, NC, SC, VA
Publix® Makoto Honey Ginger Salad Kit (8.75-oz.) in the states of FL, GA, NC

Fresh Express Salads Recalled After Deadly Listeria Outbreak

On December 21, 2021, the FDA announced that it was investigating a deadly outbreak of Listeria illnesses linked to Fresh Express bagged salads, including products from Walmart, Hannaford, Safeway, Giant Eagle, and other major grocery stores.

10 illnesses, 10 hospitalizations and 1 death were reported in the following states: IL, MA, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA and VA. Illnesses started on dates ranging from July 26, 2016, to Oct. 19, 2021.

The recall includes all Use-By Dates of fresh salad items with product codes Z324 through Z350. Click here for a full list of recalled products. The salads were sold under brand-names including:

Bowl & Basket
Fresh Express
Giant Eagle
Little Salad Bar
Market District
Marketside
O Organics
Signature Farms
Simply Nature
Weis Fresh From The Field
Wellsley Farms

On December 20, 2021, Hannaford announced a recall for several varieties of Fresh Express salads due to a risk of Listeria contamination. The recalled salads were produced at a facility in Streamwood, Illinois. Consumers may have purchased the salads between December 2, 2021 and December 19, 2021. Click here to see a list of recalled salads at Hannaford.

Fresh Express Recalls Caesar Salad for E. coli Risk

In November 2020, Fresh Express recalled 10.5 oz. bags of Fresh Express Kit Caesar Supreme with the Use-By Date of November 8, 2020 and Product Code S296 because it may be contaminated with E. coli STEC 026 bacteria. No illnesses were reported by the time the product expired.

Fresh Express Recalls Sunflower Crisp Salad After E. coli Outbreak in 5 States

In December 2019, Fresh Express recalled Sunflower Crisp Chopped Kit Salad after at least 10 people were infected with E. coli O157:H7 in the following 5 states: Georgia (1), Illinois (1), Minnesota (4), North Dakota (1), Wisconsin 3), according to the CDC outbreak investigation.

Fresh Express Salads Linked to Cyclospora Outbreak With 700+ Illnesses

In the summer of 2020, Fresh Express salads from Walmart, ALDI, Hy-Vee and other stores were linked to an outbreak of Cyclospora parasite infections that sickened 701 people in 14 states.

In June 2020, Fresh Express issued a recall for dozens of types of bagged salad after hundreds of people were infected with Cyclospora parasites.

How Many People Got Sick?

As of September 24, 2020, the outbreak appears to be over. Between May 11, 2020 to July 24, 2020, at least 701 people in 14 states were diagnosed with laboratory-confirmed Cyclospora infections after eating bagged salad, according to an outbreak investigation from the CDC.

Illnesses have been reported from 14 states: GA, IL, IA, KS, MA, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, PA, SD, WI. The hardest-hit states were Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.

What Salads Were Recalled for Cyclospora?

The bagged salads were produced by Fresh Express at a facility in Streamwood, Illinois. They contain iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, and/or carrot ingredients. The bags are marked with the letter “Z” at the beginning of the product code, followed by the number “178” or lower.

Brand-Names in Fresh Express Salad Recall

The recall involves 90 products under several brand-names, including:

What is Cyclospora?

Cyclospora cayetanensis is a parasite that spreads in feces and causes infections when people eat contaminated food or water. Washing food is unlikely to remove the parasite. Infections cause a gastrointestinal illness where the primary symptom is diarrhea, with frequent bouts of watery bowel movements.

Cyclospora Long-Term Outlook

Diarrhea from a Cyclospora infection can persist for months until it is properly diagnosed and treated. The symptoms may come and go (relapse) many times. It is common to feel extremely tired. In some cases, people must be hospitalized due to severe weight-loss.

Signs & Symptoms of a Cyclospora Infection

Not everyone has symptoms of a Cyclospora parasite infection, but when symptoms do appear, they may include:

Diarrhea
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Stomach cramps/pain
Bloating
Increased gas
Nausea
Fatigue
Vomiting
Body aches
Headache
Low-grade fever
Other flu-like symptoms

Do I have a Fresh Express Salad Lawsuit?

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Fresh Express Salad Lawsuit