The Herald Salinas Bureau reports that three Dole Fresh Vegetables’ bagged salads containing produce grown in the Salinas Valley are the focus of an investigation into an E. coli outbreak that sickened at least 12 people in Minnesota last month.
The cited bags are Dole’s Classic Romaine and American Blend salads with a “use-by” date of Sept. 23, 2005, and a production code beginning with B250. Dole’s Greener Selection with a “use-by” date of Sept. 22 and the same production code was also identified.
Because Dole has distributed a little more than 245,000 bags of the three recalled brands across the country, the Food and Drug Administration has issued a national alert to consumers against eating the affected Dole products.
As of Tuesday, 12 illnesses had been reported and four people were hospitalized. At least 11 of the affected people involved purchased the Dole products at the Rainbow Foods grocery chain in Minnesota.
All were infected with E. coli 0157:H7, the most dangerous strain of the bacteria, which can cause stomach cramps and bloody diarrhea. Being infected with the E. coli 0157:H7 may also lead to a serious complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can cause kidney failure and death.