Real Mex Foods recalls salad kits over Salmonella risk

Real Mex Foods, based in California, US, is recalling 77,688lbs of El Torito Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad Kits due to possible Salmonella contamination, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The salad kits contain dressing made with cilantro that is subject to a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recall due to Salmonella contamination risk.

The products subject to the recall are 36oz trays of El Torito Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad Kit, and 18lb cases that contain eight 36oz trays of El Torito Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad Kit.

These products bear the establishment number P-4140 inside the USDA mark of inspection and an identifying item number of 24203.

The cases bear sell by dates of 08/23/12, 08/30/12, 09/06/12, or 09/14/12, while the trays bear the same sell by dates, but in the following format – 082312, 083012, 090612, or 091412.

The products were produced between 23 July 2012 and 6 August 2012, and distributed to retail outlets in California.

Real Mex Foods initiated the recall after a supplier reported that the cilantro used in the salad kits is subject to an FDA recall.

FSIS and Real Mex Foods have not received any reports of illnesses linked to the consumption of these products.

The recall has been classified as Class I, which indicates a health hazard situation where there is a chance of serious, adverse health consequences or even death due to the consumption of the products.

Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can lead to Salmonellosis, a common bacterial foodborne illness, and its symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours.

This foodborne illness can be particularly dangerous to those with weak immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, and persons with HIV infection or those undergoing chemotherapy.