Eat Smart kale salad kits are under recall in Canada because government sample testing returned positive results for Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Apio Inc., headquartered in Guadalupe, CA, owns the Eat Smart brand, but it is not mentioned in the recall notice posted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The CFIA posted the notice Dec. 4, a day after the best-before date code on the packaged salads. 

Canadian officials did not report how may pounds or packages of the kale salad mixes are subject to the recall. The CFIA notice says retailers nationwide received the implicated packaged salads. The agency did not provide names or locations of the retailers.  

“Industry is recalling Eat Smart brand Salad Shake Ups – Sweet Kale from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled product,” according to the recall notice.

“This recall was triggered by Canadian Food Inspection Agency test results. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated food recall warnings.”

As of Dec. 4, no illnesses had been confirmed in relation to the recalled Eat Smart kale salad.

According to its website, Apio Inc. is one of the largest shippers of fresh-cut vegetables in the U.S. and Canada. It launched the Eat Smart brand in 1996.

Consumers can identify the recalled salad by looking for the following label information:

Brand NameCommon NameSizeDate codesUPC number

Eat SmartSalad Shake Ups – Sweet Kale156 gBest Before
DEC 03 2018
DE 03 112 3197 09351 30243 5

Advice to consumers
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections. Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled product and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical treatment and tell their doctors about the possible Listeria exposure.

Also, anyone who has eaten any of the recalled food should monitor themselves for symptoms during the coming weeks because it can take up to 70 days after exposure to Listeria for symptoms of listeriosis to develop. 

Symptoms of Listeria infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness. Specific laboratory tests are required to diagnose Listeria infections, which can mimic other illnesses. 

Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and people such as cancer patients who have weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of serious illnesses, life-threatening infections and other complications. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, their infections can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn or even stillbirth.