The Reason Whole Foods' Asian Chopped Salad Kits Are Being Recalled

If you have purchased any packages of 365 by Whole Foods Market brand Asian Chopped Salad Kits, you might want to check the labels.

According to a notice published by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the manufacturer of these kits (Barga Fresh) is issuing a voluntary recall of a single production run of its "365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Asian Inspired Chopped Salad Kit" product, which is exclusively sold at Whole Foods Market stores. Affected products can be identified by checking the package, as they will contain a UPC code of 9948246932, a use-by date of 7/16/23, and lot code BFFS179A2. All affected packages have been removed from sale.

The reason for the recall concerns the condiments that are packaged in the kit. Due to a manufacturing error, milk and egg products have been introduced to the condiments, and they are undeclared on the outside label. Without proper labeling, people who are severely sensitive or allergic to either of these ingredients might suffer from adverse reactions if they consume this product. The FDA recommends that you discard the salad kit, or bring it to Whole Foods Market with your receipt for a full refund. If you have further questions, you can contact Braga Fresh directly at 1-844-936-8255. According to the manufacturer, all other kits are properly labeled and are safe to eat.

This particular recall is one of several product recalls concerning salad greens or salad kits. In May, the FDA issued a recall for multiple salad kits sold under the label Fresh Location due to the inclusion of metal particles. These kits were sold in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.

In April, the FDA issued a recall for multiple salad kits manufactured by Fresh Express sold under its own label and under Publix's private label for possible contamination of listeria, a dangerous bacteria that can cause fatal infections in children and adults with weak immune systems. Five days prior to the Fresh Express recall announcement, the FDA also issued a recall for multiple salad greens sold under the brand Revolution Farms due to potential listeria contamination.

Although many recalls were announced as precautionary measures, it is best not to ignore them. In 2021-2022, multiple manufacturers including Dole and Fresh Express have to recall their products when a listeria outbreak sent multiple people to the hospital with at least one fatality.

While you can check your salad kits label to make sure everything is safe to eat, you might want to try out these eight summer salad recipes that do not come from a package. Alternatively, try this grilled Greek salad recipe for your next cookout.