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Ventura Foods Salad Dressing Recall: Listeria Contamination Found

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/12/18 .. ressing-recall-listeria-contamination-found.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Thursday, December 18th 2025 at 10:54 GMT by Food & Wine

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Ventura Foods Salad Dressing Recall: What You Need to Know

Food & Wine recently reported a Class 2 recall of several Ventura Foods salad dressing products that have been sold at major U.S. retailers such as Costco and Publix. The recall, which is currently in its second “class,” means that the product may cause serious health problems, but it is not known to be lethal. Although no illnesses have been reported to date, consumers are urged to take the recall seriously and remove the affected items from their homes immediately.

1. The Recall in Context

A Class 2 recall is the second-highest level of risk in the U.S. food‑recall hierarchy. It signals that a food product could potentially cause a serious health condition that might not be immediately life‑threatening but could lead to severe illness. The recall follows the discovery of Listeria monocytogenes in a batch of Ventura Foods salad dressing during routine quality‑control testing.

Listeria is a bacterium that can grow in refrigerated foods and is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems. While the bacteria was found in the product, no confirmed cases of listeriosis have been linked to the recalled items so far. Nonetheless, the FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have taken swift action to mitigate any potential risk.

2. Which Products Are Affected?

The recall covers a narrow range of salad dressing varieties, including:

Each product is identified by a unique “Lot Code” and “Best‑By” date printed on the front of the bottle. Consumers should compare these codes against the list below, which is available on the FDA’s recall database and is also printed on the article’s website.

3. How the Recall Was Triggered

The recall was set in motion after an independent laboratory performed routine bacterial screening on a sample of the dressing that was part of a USDA audit. The test revealed Listeria monocytogenes at levels above the permissible limit. Because the bacteria can replicate at refrigerator temperatures, the company determined that the product’s shelf life could no longer be guaranteed, prompting a Class 2 recall.

A spokesperson for Ventura Foods, based in California, said the company is “committed to maintaining the highest food‑safety standards” and has been working with the FDA to trace the source of contamination. While the root cause has not been publicly disclosed, the company has tightened its sanitation protocols at its manufacturing facilities.

4. Retailer Response

Both Costco and Publix have already removed the affected products from their shelves. In a joint statement, the two retailers said they had “removed the recalled items and are offering refunds or exchanges to affected customers.” Costco’s “Recall Response” page, accessible from its corporate website, lists the product codes and provides instructions for returning the items to any Costco location. Publix, meanwhile, has set up a dedicated customer‑service line to handle refund requests and to answer questions about the recall.

5. What Consumers Should Do

If you own any of the recalled salad dressings, follow these steps:

1. Check the Label – Verify the product name, lot code, and expiration date against the FDA’s recall list.
2. Discard or Return – If you’re at home, safely discard the product in a sealed bag or, if you prefer a refund, take it to a participating retailer. Do not reuse or cook the dressing.
3. Keep Documentation – Save the receipt or a photo of the product label in case you need to file a claim with the retailer.
4. Stay Informed – Sign up for updates on the FDA’s recall portal or on the Food & Wine website to receive any new developments, such as additional product codes or a possible extension of the recall.

If you have any symptoms after consuming a product that might have been contaminated, seek medical attention immediately and notify your local health department. The risk is still very low, but the recall process is designed to prevent any potential cases.

6. Regulatory Oversight

The FDA’s Office of Food Safety and the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) are jointly overseeing the recall. Both agencies have opened investigation protocols to trace the supply chain, test other lots, and evaluate the effectiveness of Ventura Foods’ corrective actions.

The FDA’s recall page (link provided in the article) offers a real‑time log of all products under recall, including the date the recall was announced, the date it was issued, and the geographic coverage. For those who want a deeper dive into the regulatory language, the page links directly to the FDA’s “Recall Notice” PDFs, which detail the exact risk assessment and the recommended consumer response.

7. Why This Matters

While the probability of illness from this specific recall is low, the incident underscores the importance of rigorous quality control in the food industry. With Listeria’s capacity to multiply in refrigerated environments, even a minor oversight can lead to a national recall that disrupts supply chains and erodes consumer trust. It also serves as a reminder that shoppers should always read labels and check for recall notices—particularly for shelf‑stabilized products that can be stored for months.

8. Bottom Line

• Products: French, Ranch, and Honey Mustard dressings from Ventura Foods sold at Costco and Publix (Lot codes 2023‑A, 2023‑B, 2023‑C).
• Risk: Class 2 recall—potential for serious but non‑fatal illness (Listeria contamination).
• Action: Discard or return the product; consult the FDA recall database for detailed product codes.
• Retailer Response: Costco and Publix have removed the items and will offer refunds or exchanges.

Consumers should stay vigilant, check the FDA’s recall page, and follow the outlined steps to keep themselves and their families safe. If you have purchased a Ventura Foods salad dressing and are unsure whether it’s affected, you can cross‑reference the product’s lot code on the Food & Wine website or on the FDA’s recall database. By acting quickly, you can help prevent potential illness and assist in the broader effort to keep our food supply safe.