Dole recalls bagged salads due to E. coli

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A division of Dole Food Co said on Monday it was recalling some bagged salads sold in the United States and Canada because a sample at a Canadian grocery store was found to contain E. coli.

Dole Fresh Vegetables said it has not received any reports that anyone has become sick from eating the products. The recall covers "Dole Hearts Delight" salads sold with a "best if used by" date of September 19.

In recent months, Dole has stepped up its testing and tracking of produce to prevent outbreaks of E. coli such as the one linked to bagged spinach last year that sickened hundreds and killed three.

Several other high-profile food safety scares in the last year have aggravated concerns among consumers and federal health regulators, including an E. coli outbreak linked to Yum! Brands Inc's Taco Bell restaurants in the U.S. Northeast and a salmonella contamination of Peter Pan peanut butter made by ConAgra Foods Inc that sickened 425 people.

Just last month, California produce grower Metz Fresh LLC said it recalled fresh spinach in grocery stores and food service packages after a sample tested positive for salmonella.

(Reporting by Nichola Groom)