The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to eat Dole-brand Hearts Delight lettuce salad over fears it may be contaminated with a strain of E. coli bacteria.
The agency said that while the ready-to-eat salad blend may not look or smell spoiled, the bacteria can cause life-threatening illnesses.
The affected product -- consisting of romaine, green leaf and butter lettuce hearts -- was produced in the United States and likely distributed nationally.
It was sold in 227-gram packages bearing UPC 0 71430 01038 9, BIUB (best if used by) date 07SE19 and lot code A24924B.
"We have no reported illnesses at this point," CFIA's Garfield Balsom told CTV Newsnet on Monday.
CFIA is working with the importers to have the affected product removed from stores.
Symptoms of the bacteria include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea; some people can have seizures or strokes and some may need blood transfusions and kidney dialysis, while others may live with permanent kidney damage.
More information can be obtained directly from CFIA at 1-800-442-2342, or TTY 1-800-465-7735, between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday.
