Listeria prompts recall of chicken salad, other deli items

More than 300,000 pounds of prepared chicken salad and other pre-made salad products made by a Boston company have been recalled by federal inspectors for possible listeria contamination.

The recalls of salads prepared by Boston Salads & Prepared Foods were announced by federal inspectors and the company Friday.

About 223,000 pounds of chicken salad products being recalled were made between Aug. 23 and Oct. 14 for sale in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

A company spokesman said about 80,000 pounds of other salads, including seafood and shrimp, seafood, shrimp, tuna and potato, were made for sale by early November in every New England state except New Hampshire.

The salads carry the brand names Boston Salads; Dietz & Watson; Market Source; Price Chopper; Northern Haserot; Costa Fresh Fruit Ideas and Rachael's Gourmet.

No illnesses have been reported due to consumption of the salads.

The recall is unrelated to another salad recall announced last week involving possible listeria contamination in Taylor Farms broccoli salad and slaw sold across 25 eastern and southern states.

The Taylor Farms recall involved food sold at deli counters in supermarket chains including Price Chopper, Shaw's, Shoprite, Acme Markets, Stop & Shop and others between Oct. 19 and Oct. 24. Separately, grocers Winn-Dixie and Giant Food say they have removed the items from their stores and are offering customers refunds.

There have been no reports of illnesses in connection with those products.

Listeria is a bacteria that when consumed causes an infection that primarily strikes older adults, pregnant women, newborns and adults with weakened immune systems. Listeria can lead to miscarriages in pregnant women and serious illness for those with weakened immune systems.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more information about listeria on its website.