Dole Recalls Bagged Salad Over Salmonella Fears
Dole Food Company Inc. is recalling a specific line of bagged salad, called Seven Lettuces, because of possible Salmonella contamination. But for some consumers, the recall may have come too late.
No illnesses have been reported, but one sample of Dole's Seven Lettuces bagged salad tested positive for Salmonella, the Associated Press reports. In response, Dole issued the recall.
The recalled bags of Dole's Seven Lettuces were sold in 15 states: Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
The recalled salad bags have specific UPC and product codes, which are listed on Dole's website. The bags are also stamped with a use-by date of April 11, 2012.
However, because the company's recall wasn't announced until April 14, there's a chance the potentially contaminated lettuce has already been consumed.
If so, it may be wise to try to hang on to the bag itself, as evidence for a potential food poisoning lawsuit. Such suits generally fall under strict product liability rules.
Those who have already consumed salad linked to Dole's recall may want to look for symptoms of Salmonella infection. They include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps, about 12 to 72 hours after infection.
Healthy people can generally recover from a Salmonella infection within about a week. But in more severe cases, an infection can also lead to hospitalization and even death, if a patient is not properly treated.
Customers who purchased recalled bags of Dole's Seven Lettuces should toss the bags in the trash, Dole recommends. They can also call Dole's Customer Response Center at (800) 356-3111.
Related Resources:
- Dole Recalls Salad Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination (WebMD)
- Food Poisoning: What Are Your Rights? (FindLaw's Injured)
- Types of Food Poisoning (FindLaw)
- Uh O's: What if A Recalled Food Makes You Sick? (FindLaw's Injured)