E. coli outbreak triggers nationwide alert over packaged salad mix

10/03/2005

Maura Lerner,
Star Tribune
October 4, 2005

An outbreak of E. coli disease in Minnesota has triggered a nationwide consumer alert about certain packages of Dole salad mix.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to consumers to avoid eating three brands of Dole salad that were linked to 11 cases of E. coli infection in Minnesota.

All the packages were stamped “best if used by 09/23/05” and had production codes starting with B250. The alert applies to Dole’s Classic Romaine, American Blend and Greener Selection packaged salads.

“Given the severity of this illness, FDA believes an urgent warning to consumers is needed,” said Dr. Robert Brackett, director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, in a statement released Sunday.

The Minnesota Department of Health issued its own alert last Friday, saying that 11 people aged 3 to 68, had become ill in mid-September with E. coli infections, which can cause stomach cramps and diarrhea. Two patients were hospitalized, but all recovered, according to the health department. Investigators found that nine of the patients had eaten Dole prepackaged salad sold at Rainbow Foods in the Twin Cities.