Michigan has issued a public health alert on August 6, following the discovery of Listeria in a sample of chicken from a Caesar salad sold in a suburban area of Detroit, Click on Detroit reported.
The problem was discovered the previous day during a routine product sampling at a Sam's Club store in Novi. No illnesses have been reported due to the contamination, according to Michigan's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Michigan says the product was sold from the deli at the store in an 11-ounce clear plastic container labeled "Chicken Caesar Salad" with the name "Daily Chef" on the label and a sell-by date of July 31, 2014. Consumers should return the salad to Sam's Club or discard it, if they have one in their refrigerators, WXZY reported.
In a statement obtained by Click on Detroit, Sam's club said it's committed to providing its members with safe and quality food. The store reached out to the suppliers of the contaminated salad ingredients and is fully cooperating with the health department to get to the bottom of the issue.
"As soon as we were made aware of the situation, we immediately stopped offering the salad at the café," Sam's Club said. "We are grateful that none of our members have reported any illnesses associated with this product. We will continue to monitor the situation."
The single positive Listeria test consisted of ingredients from two different suppliers and comes in a pre-packaged kit with cheese, chicken, dressing and croutons. At this point, the exact source of the contamination remains a mystery, Sam's Club said.
Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, with symptoms that include fever, headache and diarrhea or other gastrointestinal problems. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Listeria primarily affects older adults, pregnant women, newborns and those with a weakened immune system. The risk of contracting the disease may be reduced by following recommendations for safe food preparation and storage.
