Editing Dole plc (section)

===2000s===
Officials with the [[Minnesota Department of Health]] found [[Escherichia coli O157:H7|''Escherichia coli'' O157:H7]] in Dole bagged lettuce in 2005. The outbreak infected 25 people in [[Minnesota]], [[Wisconsin]], and [[Oregon (state)|Oregon]].<ref name="Produce1">{{cite web |last1=Murphy |first1=Joan |title=Minnesota finds E. coli in lettuce bags |url=http://www.producenews.com/storydetail.cfm?ID=5449 |website=The Produce News |access-date=17 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208032833/http://www.producenews.com/storydetail.cfm?ID=5449 |archive-date=8 February 2009 |date=17 October 2005}}</ref> The following year, an [[2006 North American E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in spinach|''E. coli'' outbreak]] that infected more than 200 people and killed three was traced back to a [[spinach]] processor in California which packaged spinach under the Dole brand.<ref name="SCS1">{{cite news |last1=Parsons |first1=Larry |title=Inside the CDC's report on the deadly E. coli spinach outbreak |url=http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2007/March/24/local/stories/12local.htm |access-date=8 June 2022 |work=[[Santa Cruz Sentinel]] |date=24 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930203523/http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2007/March/24/local/stories/12local.htm |archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref> Dole initiated a [[product recall|recall]] of the tainted spinach.<ref name="WSJ4">{{cite news |title=Listeria Outbreak Linked to Dole Salads From Ohio Facility |last1=Newman |first1=Jesse |last2=Brat |first2=Ilan |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/cdc-links-listeria-outbreak-to-dole-foods-ohio-facility-1453493700 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=22 January 2016 |accessdate=17 March 2022}}</ref>

According to Dole personnel and the California LGMA, this 2006 ''E. coli'' outbreak led 
to harmonizing new rigorous farm and handling practices across the fresh produce industry to minimize microbial contamination.<ref name=lupo/><ref name=lgma/>