Costco salad recall set at most severe risk by FDA

A Costco salad item that was recalled in early July has now been classified by the Food & Drug Administration as a Class I, which is the most severe risk level. 

The Issaquah, Wash.-based warehouse retailer pulled about 1,000 items of the Grain Celery Salad because it was mistakenly marked as Ancient Grain Vegetable Salad. 

The error meant the units contained undeclared soy and almonds. 

The FDA classifies the severity of recalls after they have been made and has three levels: Class I means consumption of the product can cause serious adverse health consequences or death; Class II happens when the suffering of serious adverse health consequences after consumption is remote, and the consequences are temporary or medically reversible; Class III indicates consumption of the recalled product is unlikely to cause any adverse health effects. 

The mismarked salads may have been distributed to 16 states, including California, Nevada, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Georgia.