BAY SHORE, N.Y. (September 6, 2026). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that Made Fresh Salads Inc. is recalling ready-to-eat deli-style salads and cream cheese because of potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
According to the FDA-posted announcement, the affected products were distributed by direct delivery to retail stores and distributors in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and New York City. So far, the company has reported no illnesses in connection with the recall.
Made Fresh Salads recall: quick summary
Overall, the recall covers numerous Made Fresh Salads deli-style salads and cream cheese products, as well as several Northside cream cheese varieties. Affected products have expiration dates from September 3 through September 18, 2026, printed on the bottom left of the label.
The recall was initiated after environmental sampling by the FDA and the company detected Listeria monocytogenes in some areas of the facility. In response, Made Fresh Salads stopped production and distribution while the investigation continues.
Official recall details
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Recall announcement date: September 6, 2026
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FDA publication date: September 6, 2026
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Announced by: U.S. Food and Drug Administration
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Company: Made Fresh Salads Inc.
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Brands: Made Fresh Salads and Northside
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Products: Ready-to-eat deli-style salads, cream cheese, tofu spreads, puddings, potato croquettes, and crab cakes
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Issue: Potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes
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Package sizes: Primarily 5 lb. and 30 lb. white plastic tubs, with some products packaged in half-size aluminum pans
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Expiration dates: September 3 through September 18, 2026
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Distribution: Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and New York City through direct delivery to retail stores and distributors
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Consumer action: Return affected products to the place of purchase for a full refund.
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Want to know more about what happened? Keep reading.
What happened?
According to the FDA-posted announcement, Made Fresh Salads Inc. recalled its ready-to-eat deli-style salads and cream cheese products on September 6 because of potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
The recall followed environmental sampling conducted by the FDA and the company, which detected Listeria monocytogenes in some areas of the company’s facility. In response to the findings, Made Fresh Salads stopped production and distribution while the company and FDA continue investigating the source of the problem.
Affected products carry expiration dates ranging from September 3 through September 18, printed on the bottom left of the label. They were distributed by direct delivery to retailers and distributors in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and New York City.
However, some retailers may have repacked the products into deli-style or other retail packaging. As a result, consumer-facing packaging and coding may vary depending on where the products were purchased.
So far, the company has reported no illnesses in connection with the recall.
Affected products
Brand | Product category | Size/packaging | Expiration dates | Issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Made Fresh Salads | Deli-style salads | Primarily 5 lb. and 30 lb. tubs | Sept. 3 through Sept. 18, 2026 | Potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination |
Made Fresh Salads | Cream cheese and tofu spreads | 5 lb. and select 30 lb. tubs | Sept. 3 through Sept. 18, 2026 | Potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination |
Northside | Cream cheese and tofu spreads | 5 lb. tubs | Sept. 3 through Sept. 18, 2026 | Potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination |
Made Fresh Salads | Puddings, potato croquettes, and crab cakes | 6 to 7 lb. or 12-count aluminum trays | Sept. 3 through Sept. 18, 2026 | Potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination |
The recall includes numerous individual varieties, ranging from black bean and corn salad, seafood and pasta salads to flavored cream cheeses and tofu spreads. Consumers and retailers should consult the FDA recall notice for the complete product list.
What caused the issue?
According to the FDA-posted announcement, environmental sampling conducted by the FDA and Made Fresh Salads detected Listeria monocytogenes in some areas of the company’s facility, prompting the recall of the ready-to-eat products.
However, the announcement does not identify the specific areas that tested positive or explain how the organism entered the facility. For now, the company and FDA are continuing to investigate the source of the contamination.
Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly among young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. In otherwise healthy individuals, infection may cause high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
Additionally, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. So far, no illnesses have been reported in connection with this recall.
Food Safety Insight
“Environmental findings in a ready-to-eat facility should prompt teams to look beyond the individual positive sample and evaluate what the result may indicate about conditions in the surrounding area,” said Krizella Pascua, Food Safety Specialist at Source86.
“Follow-up sampling, sanitation verification, and a review of equipment, employee movement, and hard-to-clean areas can help determine whether corrective actions have addressed the concern.”
Here’s what you should do
Consumers who may have purchased the recalled products should:
- Check for Made Fresh Salads or Northside products included in the recall.
- Look for expiration dates from September 3 through September 18, 2026, on the bottom left of the original label.
- Keep in mind that retailers may have repacked products into deli-style or other retail packaging.
- Return affected products to the place of purchase for a full refund.
- Contact the retailer if the product was repackaged and the original Made Fresh Salads or Northside label is no longer visible.
- Contact Made Fresh Salads at (718) 765-0082 Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, with recall questions.
Behind the brand
Made Fresh Salads Inc. is a Bay Shore, New York-based food company producing ready-to-eat deli foods. Its products included in the current recall range from prepared salads and flavored cream cheeses to tofu spreads, puddings, potato croquettes, and crab cakes.
Notably, this is not the company’s first recall involving potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination in 2026. In February, the FDA posted a separate Made Fresh Salads recall involving assorted cream cheese flavors and tofu spread. That earlier recall has since been completed and terminated, according to the FDA.
Other relevant recalls
- Salata Recalls Jalapeno Avocado Dressing Over Possible Salmonella Contamination
- Foods Alive Recalls Organic Moringa Leaf Powder Over Possible Salmonella Contamination
- Everything Sprouts Expands Recall to Robust Radish Mix Over E. Coli and Salmonella Risk
Regulatory context
Beyond the immediate recall, the Made Fresh Salads case highlights the importance of environmental monitoring in facilities producing ready-to-eat foods, which may receive no additional preparation or cooking step that reduces microbiological hazards before consumption.
For manufacturers, environmental monitoring can help identify potential pathogen concerns before they develop into broader food safety problems. When a positive finding occurs, sanitation records and production mapping can help teams determine which areas and products may require additional attention.
At the same time, the scope of this recall illustrates the importance of maintaining accurate product and distribution records when multiple products leave the same facility. In this case, retail repacking adds another layer of complexity because the packaging consumers see may differ from the manufacturer’s original container.
More broadly, manufacturers, Co-Manufacturers, Co-Packers, and Private Label brands can strengthen recall readiness through environmental monitoring, sanitation controls, traceability, and documented corrective actions.
Ensuring safe eats
Ultimately, the Made Fresh Salads recall highlights the importance of being prepared to respond when food safety concerns emerge in ready-to-eat production. When environmental sampling identifies a pathogen, clear traceability records and response procedures can help companies evaluate potentially affected products and take appropriate action.
For now, consumers should check Made Fresh Salads and Northside products against the recall information. Because some products may have been repacked by retailers, anyone unsure whether a deli product is affected should contact the place of purchase for additional information.
Deli salads and cream cheese spreads are handled after cooking, which makes them a classic Listeria risk; Source86 reviews post-processing sanitation when qualifying deli manufacturers. Sourcing deli salads or spreads? Ask us how we qualify RTE manufacturers.
