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Dole plant in Yuma resumes normal operations

The FDA reported listeria contamination in a single package of shredded iceberg lettuce produced in the Yuma facility.

YUMA, Ariz. (KECY, KYMA) - Dole says their Yuma plant reopened earlier this week.

Just before Christmas operations at the Dole plant in Yuma came to a halt, due to FDA-reported listeria contamination in a bag of reported listeria contamination in a single package of shredded iceberg lettuce produced in the Yuma facility.

Director of Corporate Communications for Dole William Goldfield issued a statement to KYMA today.

"We performed extensive sanitation of both plants, including disassembly of all processing lines, machinery, and supporting components,” Goldfield said, "Finally, we performed a detailed root cause analysis to formulate an understanding of the events leading up to the recalls and suspension of operations."

Goldfield says Dole received FDA approval to restart operations at the plant.

There was also contamination reported from a plant in North Carolina which has also resumed normal production.

According to the CDC, listeria is a bacteria that infects over a thousand people a year.

16 people got sick from this outbreak and two died.

Dole said it received FDA approval to re-open the plants.

Channah Rock is an environmental science professor at the University of Arizona.

She says listeria is a common bacteria.

“It’s coming from the environment, and it’s being transferred onto a crop as it comes into a facility,” Rock said.

While it's a nown bacteria, Rock also says listeria contaminations in shipped produce is rare.

She adds consumers should always store their food safely at home, but feel confident what they buy at the grocery is safe.

"We strive to reduce risks as much as possible, and unfortunately there are things now and then that do occur and bacteria can make it into fresh produce," Rock said.

Article Topic Follows: Yuma County

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Adam Klepp

Adam Klepp is excited to start his first job in the broadcast news industry as the FOX9 at 9 anchor and as a reporter at 5 and 6 on News 11.

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