Dole recalls 7 Letucces bagged salad in 15 states because of fear of salmonella

Dole Food Co.’s fresh vegetables division has decided to recall 756 cases of bagged salad out of fears that they could be contaminated with salmonella.

The bags of Seven Lettuces salads were distributed in Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Dole said the bags are being recalled after a random sample tested by the state of New York came back positive for salmonella.

No other Dole salads are included in the recall.

The recalled salads are stamped with a use-by date of April 11, 2012 with the UPC code 71430 01057 and product codes 0577N089112A and 0577N089112B, the company said.

The product code and use-by date are located in the upper right-hand corner of the package.

The UPC code is on the back of the package below the barcode.

Dole said that it’s coordinating with regulatory officials.

No illnesses have been reported, officials said.

Consumers should throw out the recalled salads.

Dole said it’s also contacting retailers to make sure the bags in question are not available for sale.

The most common symptoms of salmonella infection are diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever within eight to 72 hours of eating the contaminated food.

The illness can be severe or even life-threatening for infants, older people, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.