Giant Eagle, Inc. has announced a recall of smokey mozzarella pasta salad sold in the prepared foods departments in Giant Eagle and Market District locations across western Pennsylvania and Ohio. 

According to a press release, this recall is in response to a notification from Giant Eagle's supply partner, A.S.K Foods, Inc. regarding potential Listeria and Salmonella contamination related to the red pepper in the salad.

Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. 

The most common symptoms of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating the contaminated product. 

The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Most people recover without treatment.

However, in some people, diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. 

Older adults, infants, and persons with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a severe illness. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact their healthcare provider.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, people outside these risk groups are affected.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. 

In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. 

In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems.

Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. 

People in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell their doctor about eating the contaminated food.

The effective dates of the potentially impacted salads start on October 17, 2018. 

Giant Eagle is conducting this voluntary recall out of an abundance of caution. 

There are no reported illnesses among Giant Eagle customers to date associated with
this recall. 

The affected product can be identified with a PLU of 76578. Additional product was also sold in the in-store salad bar.

Customers who have purchased the affected product should dispose of it or return it to their local Giant Eagle or Market District. 

Customers may also bring in the qualifying receipt to receive a refund on their purchase of the affected product.