Bagged Kale Is Recalled at Kroger and Other Grocery Stores

The 1-pound bags may be contaminated with listeria

By Lisa L. Gill
Investigative Reporter

September 17, 2021

Kroger said Thursday that it is recalling its Kroger Kale brand of bagged kale, produced by Baker Farms, because the greens could be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes.

The kale was sold in 1-pound bags at Kroger stores in Georgia; South Carolina; Auburn and Huntsville, Ala.; Hopkinsville and Bowling Green, Ky.; central and northwest Ohio; Nashville and Knoxville, Tenn.; and northwestern Virginia.

Baker Farms also recalled two additional bagged kale brands, Baker Farms and SEG Grocers, from stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New York, and Virginia.

Risks of Listeria

Listeria can be extremely harmful in young children, older people, those who are pregnant, and people with a weakened immune system by causing significant and sometimes deadly infections. Symptoms can include fever and diarrhea, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, in addition to fever and muscle aches.

How does listeria get into produce like kale? “Listeria can be an environmental contaminant of a processing facility and can be found all over, including in drains, floors, ceilings, piping, and surfaces,” says James E. Rogers PhD, director of food safety research and testing at Consumer Reports. “Because of this, any leafy greens being washed, sorted, and packaged in a contaminated facility may become contaminated with the environmental listeria.”

Listeria is the third leading cause of food poisoning in the U.S., resulting in about 1,600 illnesses and 260 deaths annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Details

Products recalled: 1-pound bags of Baker Farms Kale, Kroger Kale, and SEG Grocers Kale.

The problem: The kale may be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes.

The fix: Throw away the kale or return it to the store where you bought it for a refund.

How to contact the manufacturer: Call Kroger customer service at 800-576-4377, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST. For Baker Farms, call 229-769-3113, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST.

Lisa L. Gill

Lisa L. Gill is an award-winning investigative reporter. She has been at Consumer Reports since 2008, covering health and food safety—heavy metals in the food supply and foodborne illness—plus healthcare and prescription drug costs, medical debt, and credit scores. Lisa also testified before Congress and the Food and Drug Administration about her work on drug costs and drug safety. She lives in a DIY tiny home, where she gardens during the day and stargazes the Milky Way at night.