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E. Coli Risk Spurs Dole Salad Recall

No Reports of Illness; Dole Recalls Bagged Salad Labeled 'Dole Hearts Delight'

By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Sept. 18, 2007 -- Get ready to check your refrigerator again for a recalled food product.

Dole Fresh Vegetables is recalling all salad bearing the label "Dole Hearts Delight" sold in the U.S. and Canada with a "best if used by" date of Sept. 19, 2007, and a production code of "A24924A" or "A24924B" stamped on the package.

The reason for the recall: A sample of the product in a Canadian grocery store tested positive for E. coli 0157:H7.

E. coli bacteria can cause stomach cramps and diarrhea, which may be bloody. Most people recover within a week without treatment, but some people, especially the young, old, and ill, may develop life-threatening complications.

No illnesses have been reported in connection with Dole Hearts Delight. The recall doesn't include any other Dole salad products.

Dole Hearts Delight was sold in plastic bags weighing half a pound in the U.S. and 227 grams in Canada. Look for the "best if used by (BIUB)" date in the upper right-hand corner of the front of the plastic bag. The product's UPC code is 071430-01038.

If you have the recalled Dole salad product, throw it out. If you've had any symptoms within three to five days of eating the recalled product, seek medical attention. If you're looking for more information, call the Dole Consumer Center at (800) 356-3111.

The recalled "Dole Hearts Delight" bagged salad was sold in Canada's Ontario, Quebec, and Maritime Provinces, and in Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and neighboring U.S. states, according to Dole.

But the recall isn't limited to those areas. It applies throughout the U.S. and Canada.

"Our overriding concern is for consumer safety," states Eric Schwartz, president of Dole Fresh Vegetables, in a Dole news release.

Schwartz says Dole is working with the FDA, Canada's Food Inspection Agency, and several U.S. state health departments to address the problem.

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