In an April 28th, 2006 MSNBC Dateline investigative report titled “Unseen danger in bagged salads,” Dateline documents several cases of E. coli infections caused by bagged salad, including an 11-year-old girl and a 54 year-old-old man.
In September and October, 2005, at least 23 Minnesotans became ill with E. coli O157:H7 infections after consuming Dole brand triple-washed, pre-packaged lettuce. Consumers in Wisconsin and Oregon who suffered E. coli infections in the same time period were also determined to be part of the Dole lettuce E. coli outbreak through genetic testing and an epidemiological investigation into their illnesses. Marler Clark represented eight individuals – seven Minnesotans and one Oregonian – with claims against Dole, and settled all cases in the spring of 2006.