Fresh Express Salad Mix Sold in IN, KY, and IL Recalled

As if we don't have enough to worry about when it comes to our health this year, pre-packaged salad maker, Fresh Express, is voluntarily recalling certain products made in their Streamwood, Illinois facility after discovering they may be contaminated with the bacteria, Cyclospora.

According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Cyclospora is a bacteria that can cause an intestinal infection with symptoms that may include, "severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, body aches and fatigue." No thank you. Fortunately, if you were to contract the bacteria, it is treatable with antibiotics, and the FDA says most people respond to treatment quickly. That's definitely good to hear, but obviously it would great to avoid the infection altogether.

The recall applies to "branded and private label salad products...that contain iceberg lettuce, red cabbage and/or carrot ingredients." The products were distributed to stores all across the Midwest including here in Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois.

To tell if a Fresh Express product you have in your refrigerator is included in the recall check the product code in the upper right corner on the front of the package. If it starts with the letter "Z," it's part of the recall. Do not eat it (hopefully by this point, that's obvious).

In a statement about the recall on their website, Fresh Express says you can "contact the Fresh Express Consumer Response Center toll-free at (800) 242-5472 on Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time" if you have any questions, or would like to obtain a refund.

[Sources: U.S. FDA / Fresh Express]