Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. E. coli Lawyer Update: Two Brands of Organic Romaine Hearts Recalled Due to E. coli Risks.

A recent voluntary recall was announced by Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) affecting a limited number of cases of organic romaine hearts due to a potential risk of E. coli contamination. The recall was issued on November 21, 2020, after the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development conducted routine sample testing at a retail store and a package of Dole Organic Romaine Hearts tested positive for non-O157 E. coli STEC. At the time of the recall, no illnesses have been linked to the potentially contaminated products.

The FDA has announced that at this moment the only two brand names being affected by the recall are Dole Organic Romaine Hearts and Wild Harvest Organic Romaine Hearts. According to the information provided by the FDA both of the recalled products should no longer be available for retail purchase as they were harvested and packed almost 4 weeks ago. The recall was issued as a way to advise consumers who may have purchased the potentially contaminated products and still have them at home to dispose of them as soon as possible. 

Both Dole Organic Romaine Hearts and Wild Harvest Organic Romaine Hearts had harvested dates of 10-23-20 and 10-26-20. The Dole package contained three organic romaine hearts with the UPC 0-71430-90061-1 and the Wild Harvest products were packaged in 12oz bags with the UPC 7-11535-50201-2. The potentially contaminated products were distributed to retail stores in AZ, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, and VA. 

Consumers who may have eaten any of the contaminated products should stay vigilant for symptoms of E. coli such as diarrhea, severe stomach cramps, and vomiting. Symptoms of E. coli can begin as early as 3 days after exposure to the contaminated products, or as late as two weeks after. Ron Simon, a national E. coli Lawyer, stated:

“As a whole, non-STEC serogroups are less likely to cause severe illness than STEC serogroups. The most common STEC serogroup is E. coli O157, which is the most commonly diagnosed STEC in part because it is pervasive, but also because it is routinely tested for in standard stool cultures. But there are other STEC serogroups that can cause severe illnesses. Often, however, a proper diagnosis is more difficult because standard stool cultures do not screen for all STEC subgroups. Nonetheless, as with nearly all STEC, these non-O157 serogroups are normally found in the fecal flora of animals including cattle, sheep, chickens, goats, elk, dogs, and cats. They contaminate food, and when eaten, present with the symptoms of STEC poisoning.”

For more information on the Organic Romaine Hearts recall, to speak to an E. coli Lawyer, or to inquire about an E. coli Lawsuit, call 1-888-335-4801.