Business & Tech

E. Coli Threat: Whole Foods Recalls Ready-To-Eat Grain Salads

Whole Foods Market’s Northern California region is recalling ready-to-eat Artichoke Wheatberry Salad and Southwest SooFoo Salad in response to a recall issued Tuesday by Glass Onion Catering, the FDA said in a news release. 

The salads are being recalled as a preventive measure because they have the potential to be contaminated with a bacterial strain of E. coli that may cause illness.

Symptoms of E. coli infection may include abdominal cramps and diarrhea which is often bloody. 

Most infected people recover within a week; however, some may develop complications that require hospitalization. 

Young children and the elderly are at highest risk for a potentially life-threatening complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) which includes kidney failure. 

To date, 26 illnesses have been reported; however, none of the illnesses are linked to products specifically sold at Whole Foods Market.

Customers may have purchased the Artichoke Wheatberry Salad and Southwest SooFoo Salad from the fresh deli case, salad bar and/or in pre-packed pint or half-pint containers in the Prepared Foods department. 

Both products have been pulled from all venues and carry an expiration date between Nov. 9 and Nov. 13. Four PLUs are associated with these salads:

  • 28563300000- Artichoke Wheatberry Salad
  • 28563400000- Artichoke Wheatberry Salad
  • 28563700000- Southwest SooFoo Salad
  • 28563800000- Southwest SooFoo Salad

The recalled salads were sold in the following 10 of the company’s 40 Northern California stores:

  • Los Gatos, 15980 Los Gatos Blvd, Los Gatos, CA 94032
  • Capitola, 1710 41st Ave, Capitola, CA 95010
  • Fremont, 3111 Mowry Ave., Fremont, CA 94538
  • Oakland, 230 Bay Place, Oakland, CA 94612
  • Lafayette, 3502 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette, CA 94549
  • Napa, 3682 Bel Aire Plaza, Napa, CA 94558
  • Noe Valley, 3950 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94114
  • Redwood City, 1250 Jefferson Ave, Redwood City, CA 94062
  • San Mateo, 1010 Park Pl, San Mateo, CA 94403
  • Walnut Creek, 1333 Newell Ave, Walnut Creek, CA 94596

Customers who have purchased these products should discard them, and may bring in a receipt to any of the above stores for a full refund.

Questions about the recall can be directed to 512-477-5566, ext. 20060, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central.

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SooFoo is a separate corporate entity; Whole Foods Market sources SooFoo grains as an ingredient in its Southwest SooFoo Salad. The SooFoo ingredient is not related to the recall, the FDA said.


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