Baby Arugula From Publix Recalled Sparks Concern Over Salmonella Outbreak

By: David Donovan | Published: Jun 10, 2024

The Publix general store chain reported a recall of specific Green Life Farms’ Hydroponic Baby Arugula bundles over worries of potential salmonella contamination.

Green Life Farms voluntarily recalled one lot of its 4-ounce baby arugula containers due to possible salmonella traces, one of the leading causes of food poisoning in the United States, according to a Publix news release.

Affected Products

Containers made of clear plastic are sold for the baby arugula. Only products marked with Lot #LW15124 are affected by the recall. 

Advertisement
The exterior of a Publix located near Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando, Florida, taken on June 14, 2023

Wikimedia Commons user Nielsoncaetanosalmeron

Publix’s announcement stated that the item’s lot code is printed at the top point of the product’s packaging.

Advertisement

Store Locations

Over 1,376 Publix stores can be found in eight states, according to the company’s website: Tennessee, Virginia, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. 

Advertisement
The interior of a Publix in Orlando, Florida. There are people shopping as the aisles are visible from above.

Wikimedia Commons user “greenzig”

According to Publix’s press release, the recalled baby arugula packages “were available for sale at select Publix locations from 5/31/24 and have a sell-by date of 6/15/24.”

Produce Testing

During its routine testing, Green Life Farms discovered “the presence of salmonella in a single harvest” of its baby arugula, indicating the possibility of contamination. 

Advertisement
Green Life Farms products in packages laid out on a table on top of each other.

X user GreenLifeFarms

Publix said that customers who have bought the recalled item “are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.” Customers can also contact them at [email protected] or call 1-888-213-9603.

Salmonella Impact

The recall has not been linked to any illnesses that have been reported. Salmonella can cause diarrhea, fever, stomach pain, headache, nausea, and/or vomiting, according to the Cleveland Clinic. 

Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic Miller Family Pavilion exterior showing the front of the building

Wikimedia Commons user Cards84664

Anybody can get the contamination, even though there is a heightened risk for individuals who take stomach-settling agents, recently had antibiotics, have inflammatory bowel disease, and for kids younger than 5.

Risk Prevalence

Salmonella is more likely to cause serious illness in people over 65 and infants younger than 1. Individuals with compromised immune systems are likewise at a higher risk.

Taussig Cancer Center, part of the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center, it is sunset

Cleveland Clinic

According to the Cleveland Clinic, “Salmonella is one of the most common forms of food poisoning.” 

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic Report

The report continued: “Over a million people in the U.S. alone get salmonella every year and 26,500 are hospitalized. There are about 420 deaths due to salmonella every year in the U.S.”

Dr. Choline Espinoza from the Cleveland Clinic posing for a photo in a hallway

X user ClevelandClinic

Assuming that you are encountering side effects of salmonella, preventing dehydration by drinking a lot of fluids is crucial. 

Advertisement

Treatment of Salmonella

Adults are able to take non-prescription meds to assist with curtailing the side effects of diarrhea. 

An FDA microbiologist tests seafood samples for the presence of Salmonella.

Flickr user FDA Lav 3000

The clinic says that the infection usually goes away on its own after a few days of symptoms.

Advertisement

Cucumber Outbreak

This is just the latest in a series of salmonella scares following the cucumber outbreak in Florida recently.

Sliced cucumbers with whole cucumbers next to them

Wikimedia Commons user Muu-karhu

The outbreaks of salmonella Africana and salmonella Braenderup have been reported to cause sickness in 320 people.

Advertisement

Florida Produce

Recalls related to cucumbers have been connected to Fresh Start Produce Sales of Delray Beach.

Pickling cucumbers placed in a basket

Wikimedia Commons user Dlanglois

The company had shipped its produce to states around the country including Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Advertisement

CDC Weighs In

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they said they were conducting “further testing” in order to “see if it is the same strain as the one making people sick.”

This photograph depicts an exterior view of CDC′s Roybal campus in Atlanta, GA

CDC

The CDC went on to say: “Investigators are also working to collect more information to see if other cucumbers are affected.”

Advertisement

Undercounting Outbreaks

As most people who are infected with salmonella don’t seek out professional medical attention, the number of people affected may be undercounted.

Cucumbers placed on top of each other

Unsplash user Harshal S. Hirve

In the recent outbreaks of the 65 people who were reported to have the salmonella Afrficana strain, 47 people said they ate cucumbers.

The salmonella reports have caused concern among the public and companies have been made to be vigilant in reporting any potential outbreaks.

Advertisement