DPH ISSUES CONSUMER ADVISORY ALERT

BOSTON — The Department of Public Health (DPH) is issuing a consumer advisory alert that lettuce recently recalled by Dole Food Company on September 17, 2007 may have been sold in Massachusetts.

It is not known at this time how much of the product was sold in Massachusetts, or in what stores it was sold. Health officials are asking that consumers check and dispose of Dole Salad products bearing the following information:

"Dole Hearts Delight" sold in the U.S. and Canada with a "best if used by (BIUB)" date of September 19, 2007, and a production code of "A24924A" or "A24924B" stamped on the package. The "best if use by (BIUB)" code date can be located in the upper right hand corner of the front of the bag. The salad was sold in plastic bags of 227 grams in Canada and one-half pound in the U.S., with UPC code 071430-01038.

The Dole Company voluntarily recalled the salad after it found the presence of E. coli during what it says was a random screening of the product in Canada.

Symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 exposure could include stomach cramps and diarrhea. Bloody diarrhea may develop. E. coli disease sometimes leads to a complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). If you have any of these symptoms within 3 to 5 days of consuming any of the products mentioned in the recall, DPH recommends that consumers seek medical attention as well as contacting local health departments.

To date, DPH has received no reports of illness associated with these products. No other Dole salad products are involved.

For more information, consumers can call the Dole Consumer Center toll-free at 800-356-3111, or the DPH Food Protection Program at 617- 983-6700.

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