"Chopped Southwest" (salad product) packed in 10.3oz. packages

Fresh Express INC (Div of Chiquita Brands) recalled "Chopped Southwest" (salad product) packed in 10.3oz. packages in a Class I action — the FDA's most serious tier, reserved for products with a reasonable probability of causing serious health consequences or death on Dec 18, 2021.

The recall was triggered by possible Listeria contamination: "potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes" Listeria monocytogenes can grow at refrigerator temperatures and is especially dangerous for pregnant people, newborns, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.

The product reached multiple states, recorded by the FDA as "Products were distributed to 110 domestic distributors (in CT, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, ND, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA, and WI) and 3 foreign distributors (Canada)." A multi-state footprint means the same lot can surface in households far from the producer. The recalling firm is based in Streamwood, IL. The recall covers 40,867 cases of product. The FDA has Terminated this recall (first reported Feb 2, 2022), its final lifecycle state, indicating the agency considers the corrective action resolved. The historical record remains useful for tracking a brand's recall pattern over time.